Nicholas Santos Breaks Suited World Record In Men’s SCM 50 Fly – 21.75

2018 FINA WORLD CUP – BUDAPEST

Ageless wonder Nicholas Santos took another one of the vaunted super-suit era world records down in the men’s 50 fly at the 2018 FINA World Cup stop in Budapest, blasting a 21.75 to break Steffen Deibler‘s record of 21.80 that had stood for nearly nine years.

Santos, who is 38 years of age, had tied his South American Record from 2014 at the Eindhoven stop of the World Cup last week in 22.08, defeating Chad Le Clos by .01. Le Clos has been dominant on the circuit for the past number of years, especially in the fly events where he’s rarely been defeated.

Santos managed to do it for a second straight competition, ultimately beating the South African by over three-tenths of a second with Le Clos 2nd in 22.11.

With this record swim, he joins Deibler, Roland Schoeman and Le Clos as the only men to break 22 seconds in the event, with Le Clos the only man to ever do so on multiple occasions (three times). In total he owns six of the ten fastest performances of all-time.

All-Time Performances, Men’s SCM 50 Fly

  1. Nicholas Santos – 21.75
  2. Steffen Deibler – 21.80
  3. Roland Schoeman – 21.87
  4. Chad Le Clos – 21.95
  5. Chad Le Clos – 21.98 / Le Clos – 21.98
  6. Chad Le Clos – 22.02
  7. Chad Le Clos – 22.03
  8. Roland Schoeman – 22.05
  9. Steffen Deibler / Chad Le Clos – 22.06

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ERVINFORTHEWIN
6 years ago

The Guy has serious muscle power at 38 !!! Impressive

Caeleb Dressel Will Win 9 Gold Medals in Tokyo
6 years ago

OLDEST RECORD HOLDER EVER

swimmer!
6 years ago

Look at that vascularity!

Not a suspicious swim at all.

DDias
Reply to  swimmer!
6 years ago

I saw him up close at Maria Lenk 2017, where he did a 22.6 SA Long Course record in 50fly. His physical shape is incredible. He told he is very selective in what he eats, is much more controlled when he was younger. And he is not training every day, but training with more intensity. And before Dressel era, he was the best start of the World. And he did another great one today!

Mark
Reply to  DDias
6 years ago

More intensity? Do they mean USRPT?

DDias
Reply to  Mark
6 years ago

I believe he is doing a type/form of USRPT-like training because he isn’t training every day to avoid injuries and sustain a great shape. I will ask around.

Kristiina
Reply to  DDias
6 years ago

He resistence is now better.

Kristiina
Reply to  DrSwimPhil
6 years ago

This was diureticum case. No hormons,no steroids..

Tim
Reply to  Kristiina
6 years ago

Ok what ever you say.

swimmer!
Reply to  Tim
6 years ago

Ignorance is bliss

DrSwimPhil
Reply to  Kristiina
6 years ago

Was he trying to cut water weight before a big swim?

fst
Reply to  DrSwimPhil
6 years ago

To be fair, that was over 7 years ago. There is no proof that he isn’t clean now.

swimmer!
Reply to  fst
6 years ago

True. That being said, many aspects of this swim are eyebrow-raising. Elite male athletes don’t improve this late in their careers or at this age without some help.

allmighty
Reply to  swimmer!
6 years ago

get to know his daily routines first, he’s definitely not filling himself w whoppers and soda like most of the peope that “dont improve this late”

Swimmer!
Reply to  allmighty
6 years ago

I can’t imagine that there is a ton of variance between elite athletes with their diet and training. Yes, some may be more lax than others, but strict diet and training is commonplace with athletes. An extreme select few break any sort of records in their late 30’s or early 40’s or improve their performances.

A 38 year old having a huge time drop and breaking a suited world record is suspicious. I’ve seen enough sports to know that this is suspicious. Not to mention the fact he has already failed a test.

Kristiina
6 years ago

This is incredible swim. He will first male swimmer at Olympic age over 40. He 100 fly is also more better.

Kristiina
Reply to  Kristiina
6 years ago

In Budapest already 100fly third place. Behind Le Clos and Metella.

Dee
6 years ago

He wanted the LC WR, but Govorov has put that massively out of reach – Great consolation for him.

SprintDude9000
Reply to  Dee
6 years ago

IMO 21.75 short course meters is more impressive than 22.27 long course

Anonymoose
Reply to  SprintDude9000
6 years ago

lol wut? you‘ve got to be joking right?

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Anonymoose
6 years ago

he is joking of course

anonymoose
6 years ago

that picture explains it. wow!

mcgillrocks
6 years ago

Impressive swim, especially at 38. 38 is old for any sports, so to be swimming personal bests and world records at that age is nuts.

swimmer!
Reply to  mcgillrocks
6 years ago

Really makes you think!

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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