How Is Nicholas Santos Still Winning World Titles at 41 Years Old?

2021 FINA SHORT COURSE SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Reported by Michael Hamann.

Men’s 50 fly Final

  • World Record: 21.75 – SANTOS Nicholas (BRA) 6 OCT / SZABO Szebasztian (HUN) 6 NOV 2021
  • Championship Record: 21.81 – SANTOS Nicholas (BRA) 15 DEC 2018
  • World Junior Record: 22.34 – MINAKOV Andrei (RSF) 18 DEC 2020

Top 8 finishers:

  1. Nicholas Santos (BRA): 21.93
  2. Dylan Carter (TTO): 21.98
  3. Matteo Rivolta (ITA): 22.02
  4. Szebasztian Szabo (HUN): 22.14
  5. Grigori Pekarski (BLR): 22.35
  6. Nyls Korstanje (NED): 22.39
  7. Tom Shields (USA): 22.42
  8. Oleg Kostin (RUS): 22.43

In a battle of the current World Record holders, Brazil Nicholas Santos came out on top in 21.93. Santos initially set the World Record at 21.75 in 2018 in Budapest. In a disappointing finish, the Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo finished off the podium in fourth in 22.14, just a month after matching Santos’ World Record at the European Championships.

Three years ago, Santos became the oldest person to ever win a world title, winning this event in World Record fashion as a 38 year old. He returned this year, as a 41 year old, to show that he still has plenty left in the tank and can compete with athletes nearly half his age.

In This Story

52
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

52 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
The condors were robbed
2 years ago

Next Swimswam article: « How fast is Emilie Fast? »

McKeown-Hodges-McKeon-Campbell
Reply to  The condors were robbed
2 years ago

how is Emilie Fast?

Snarky
2 years ago

Because he’s fast!

Br
2 years ago

Gotta love them Americanos man… always the first ones to point fingers

Hard look in the mirror before talking smack about people my friends…

Brr
Reply to  Br
2 years ago

Don’t forget to take your adderall and asthma inhalers… and never drink tap water while in Texas

Luigi
2 years ago

Short, fast, technical races. Ervin came back in 2011 after 7 years of inactivity and immediately was back on top. Then in another 5 years he was Olympic champ. Granted he was not 41, but you see my point. If the talent is there and the commitment is there …

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

He focuses on one event, has learned to nail every technical detail of it, and has learned what works for him.

Scotty P
2 years ago

OOOOO OOOO best idea ever! “Natty or Not” swimming edition.

Last edited 2 years ago by Scotty P
Aqui é Brasil porrrr
Reply to  Scotty P
2 years ago

Yeah, but let’s ask everyone about their opinions… not only Americans, you’d be surprised 😉

Louiggi
2 years ago

respeito! tam bom pra,pra pra

Taa
2 years ago

Its good to be skeptical its up to WADA to catch him. Torres same if I had a vote I would vote she did some shady stuff but its nothing more than a guess. Tom Brady seems fanatical about his health I would vote that has crossed the line…I think Peyton M was having stuff shipped to his wife at some point?

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

Read More »