Scheffer Breaks South American 200 Free Record To Close Brazil Open

2018 BRAZILIAN OPEN

  • December 19-21, 2018
  • Porto Alegre, Brazil
  • LCM (50m)
  • Results

The final day of the 2018 Brazil Open was highlighted by a record-breaking swim from Fernando Scheffer, as the 20-year-old took out his South American and Brazilian marks in the men’s 200 free in a time of 1:45.51.

Scheffer had first broken the record back in April, when he went 1:46.08 at the Maria Lenk Trophy to take out Joao De Lucca‘s 1:46.42 from the 2015 Pan American Games. Scheffer also just missed breaking his record at the Pan Pacific Championships in August, where he finished 4th in a time of 1:46.12, and he also notably had the 2nd fastest split in the entire field in the 4×200 free relay there in 1:44.87.

For the calendar year of 2018, Scheffer’s 1:45.51 ranks him 4th in the world.

He’s one of the swimmers who competed here in Porto Alegre shortly after the Short Course World Championships last week in Hangzhou, China. There, Scheffer had a strong performance with a new South American Record in the 400 free and he also contributed the 2nd fastest leg (1:40.99) on Brazil’s world record setting 4×200 free relay.

Also of note in the 200 freestyle was a time trial swim from 15-year-old Gustavo Saldo, who set a new Youth 1 Record in a time of 1:50.13. That broke the previous mark of 1:51.24 from Murilo Sartori.

OTHER WINNERS

  • Etiene Medeiros, who set a new Continental Record in Hangzhou in the women’s 50 free, won that event in the final session in a very fast 24.96, half a second off her long course record set at the Rio Olympic Games. Lorrane Ferreira took 2nd in 25.43.
  • Pedro Spajari won the men’s 50 in a time of 22.22, edging out Leonardo Alcover (22.35) and Gabriel Santos (22.53).
  • 400 free runner-up Viviane Jungblut won the women’s 800 in a time of 8:44.20, with Betina Lorscheitter (8:48.32) 2nd and Gabrielle Roncatto (8:50.77), the winner of that 400, was 3rd.
  • Guilherme Costa pulled away from Miguel Valente down the stretch to win the men’s mile in 15:05.45, with Valente just five seconds back in 15:10.98
  • Thayanne de Cardoso (2:34.02) and Andreas Mickosz (2:13.89) won the women’s and men’s 200 breast events respectively.

FINAL TEAM SCORES

  1. Minas Tenis, 1240.0
  2. Pinheiros, 893.0
  3. GNU, 760.0
  4. Corinthians, 677.0
  5. SESI-SP, 640.0

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Rafael
5 years ago

And saldo 3:52:03 on 400 on the same champs of sartori

Rafael
5 years ago

For update sartori went 1:48:91 200 free on his age championship

DLSwim
5 years ago

On a related note, I am still incredibly impressed by Brazil’s victory in the 4×200 relay at the WCs, with a new WR. The conventional wisdom has always been that Brazil is really good at sprints, so this (the relay win + Scheffer’s LC time) takes Brazilian swimming to a whole new level! How’d that happen? Congratulations to the Brazilian national team.

Rafael
Reply to  DLSwim
5 years ago

Well many started to swim after Cielo og (scheffer was 10 years old on 2008) and a few years ago Brazil abolished the 4×50 on national champs and started focusing more on linger distances and this paid of with scheffer altamir Breno etc.

Cheatin Vlad
5 years ago

That’s a legit world contending time. Nobody goes a 1:44 anymore.

Luigi
5 years ago

If everything goes right he is going to peak around the right time, 2020. All it takes to get a medal these days is going sub 1:45

Dee
Reply to  Luigi
5 years ago

That’s a bit of a misconception. Only once in Olympic history (2012) has it taken 1.44 to medal. Bronze, and often silver, are usually 1.45low swims at the Olympic Games. Same in the World Champs, only 2009/2011 did it take 1.44 to win a medal (top 5 went 1.44 in 2011!!). 1.45low (even 1.45mid) gives you a great percentage chance of winning a medal. 1.44 is the gold medal standard though.

Luigi
Reply to  Dee
5 years ago

So I actually underestimated his chances 🙂

Dee
Reply to  Luigi
5 years ago

He certainly has a great chance

DRESSEL IS GOD
5 years ago

He will be a threat to medal next year at worlds.

Superfan
Reply to  DRESSEL IS GOD
5 years ago

I agree! Who is coaching most of these young guys?

Rafael
Reply to  DRESSEL IS GOD
5 years ago

And this time was 1 day after arriving in Brazil after a 20+ hours flight from hanghzou

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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