Nicholas Santos retired from professional swimming over two years ago but that does not mean he has stopped breaking records. Santos, who won the 50-meter butterfly at the 2022 Short Course World Championships at 42 to become the oldest World Championship medalist in history, just broke the men’s 45-49 masters’ world record in the same event.
Santos, 45, ripped a 23.26 at the Brazilian Masters Championship in Porto Alegre last weekend. His time shattered the former record of 24.96, swum by South Africa’s Marc Kevin Allan last year, by 1.70 seconds, a huge margin for a stroke 50.
Though Santos is retired from professional swimming and has stayed in shape with only three weekly swimming sessions and a “controlled fitness and bodybuilding program,” according to BestSwimming’s Alex Pussieldi, you would not know that just from this time. It clears the World Aquatics ‘A’ cut for the 2025 World Aquatic Championships by a tenth and would have won silver behind Gui Caribe’s 22.95 at the recent Maria Lenk Trophy. Further, it would rank 21st among the fastest professional swimmers in the world this season, behind Shaine Casas’ 23.25 from the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series. Noe Ponti leads the world rankings in 22.77.
Nicholas Santos venceu os 50m borboleta do Brasileiro Masters em Porto Alegre novo Recorde Mundial 45+ 23.26
Tempo seria prata no Maria Lenk 2025 e indice para o Mundial de Singapura pic.twitter.com/ktMBXJTYCZ
— Coach Alex Pussieldi (@alexpussieldi) May 4, 2025
A Brazilian Olympian, Santos enjoyed a decorated international career. He first participated in a World Championships in 2001; over his two decades of racing, he earned four long-course World Championship medals (three silver, one bronze) all in the 50-meter butterfly. He earned the last of those medals at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest, claiming his third silver medal. Santos was even more successful at the short-course World Championships, earning 12 medals—including six gold—between 2004 and 2022.
Santos was a sprint freestyle and butterfly specialist and though he did race the 100 freestyle as part of Brazil’s relays, he shined brightest in the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly. He is a former world record holder in the short-course 50 butterfly (21.75) and still holds the South American record in that event and the long-course edition (22.60). There’s been much talk about whether the recent introduction of the 50s of stroke to the LA 2028 Olympic schedule will extend the careers of some of the sport’s current veterans. But, the change could also bring a recently retired sprint specialist like Santos back to the sport.
This is Santos’ second long course masters’ world record. He swam 23.72 in the 50 butterfly last August, establishing a new standard in the men’s 40-44 age group before he aged up this February.
With the 50s (less training)now in play. Santos could be competing competively around the world and having fun.Thats what swimming is about at any age.
Send this guy to Singapore
For anyone who likes G. Walsh and always says she underdelivers in the 100 free:
Dos Santos’ 50 free is only around 0.6s faster than his 50 fly, no matter what.
When he was 22.6 in 50 fly, he was 22 flat in 50 free (forget shiny suit 21.55 time).
Sometimes, your body is too suited for one type of stroke.
Of course the same with Govorov.
I don’t know about you, but LA28 seems possible for me. I don’t know how hard is aging between 45-48 tho
He went faster than the 50 free record of 23.55.
Shouldn’t he get both?
Seems totally reasonable. Is there a rule on that? What if someone swam legal fly in a free event. Would that be a free or fly record?
I think it would just be a free record, like when Gretchen Walsh swam butterfly in the 100 freestyle final at the Tennessee invite in 2023 and unofficially broke the 100 fly record. Granted, that was in the NCAA but I think the rules are the same.
Congratulations Nicholas!! You can be fast for a very long time.
How thorough is PED testing when you’re a masters swimmer ?
I’ve been to a lot of masters meets but have yet to be tested (maybe i’m just not good enough to be a believable cheat lol)
I do not believe there is any PED testing for masters swimming. I read that a masters runner in his 70s was suspended for PED use. So I guess even masters cheat.
Taipei this year for World masters games has testing! First I have heard. Believe only those world records should be tested to ratify it. Makes sense
There is no testing at Masters meets, been that way forever.
I would be very weirded out if a tester wanted my sample at masters nationals.
He’s definitely targeting LA28, and honestly he’s got a shot at qualifying. Finals might be a reach at 48, but just making it there would be such an epic story!