The 2018 Maria Lenk Trophy (Brazil’s major long course national championship) kicks off on April 17th, and psych sheets have been released.
Among the men’s entrants is Cesar Cielo, who is entered in the 50 back, 50 fly, and 50 and 100 free. Additionally, University of South Carolina freshman and 2018 NCAA Championship finalist Brandonn Almeida is entered in the 400 free, 200 and 400 IMs, and 200 back. Bruno Fratus is entered in the 50 and 100 free.
On the women’s side, notable entrants include Dutch swimmer Kira Toussaint and Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte. Toussaint is entered in the 50, 100 and 200 back, as well as 50 free, and Meilutyte is entered in the 50, 100 and 200 breast, as well as the 50 free.
There are also a number of notable absences, per Brazilian swimming news site Best Swimming. World Champion Etiene Medeiros, who underwent shoulder surgery in late January, will not compete. The 50 back specialist is said to be back training, but will target the 2018 FINA Short Course World Championships in December for her return to competition. Olympian Thiago Simon is also not entered after voluntarily withdrawing himself from competition pending the results of a FINA inquiry into a positive drug test from before the 2017 FINA World Championships. Olympian Joanna Maranhão, who recently left the Unisanta team following its hire of former CBDA official Ricardo de Moura, is still between-teams and will not attend.
Additionally, a number of NCAA athletes will not make the trip (note that many of these swimmers have not competed in Brazil since beginning college in the US). Brazilian Division I swimmers passing up the meet include Ohio State’s Henrique Painhas, Michigan’s Luiz Gustavo Borges, and Texas A&M’s Felipe Rizzo. From Division II, Florida Tech’s Victor Rocha Furtado, Indianapolis University’s Guilherme Zavanelli and Rodrigo Berti, and Lindenwood’s Matheus Isidor will not attend.
