Swimming in Brazil has a rich history full of achievements, with a significant presence in both national and international competitions. From the end of the 19th century, when the sport began to become popular in the country, to the present day, Brazilian swimming has evolved considerably, revealing talents that stand out globally. Today we’re going to learn more about the sport in our country, as well as who the best swimmers in Brazil today are!
🤑 Bet at Bet7k and WIN up to R$7,000 in bonuses on your first deposit 🚨
Read on to find out about the best swimmers in Brazil today.
Swimming in Brazil began to gain popularity at the end of the 19th century, with the establishment of regatta and swimming clubs in major cities, such as the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro and the Club Athletico Paulistano in São Paulo.
The first national swimming championship was held in 1898 in Rio de Janeiro, marking the beginning of organized competitions in the country.
Throughout the 20th century, Brazilian swimming evolved, with athletes beginning to represent the country in international competitions.
A significant milestone was in 1920, when Brazil took part in the Olympic Games in Antwerp, with Oscar Gonçalves de Oliveira becoming the first Brazilian swimmer to compete in the Olympics.
In the 1950s and 1960s, names like Tetsuo Okamoto and Manoel dos Santos began to shine, with Okamoto winning Brazil’s first Olympic swimming medal, a bronze in the 1500-meter freestyle at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
Since then, Brazil has continued to develop great swimmers, establishing itself as an emerging power in world swimming.
Read on to find out about the best swimmers in Brazil today.
Best swimmers in Brazil today: rules, disciplines and curiosities
Basic rules
- Swimming pool: swimming competitions take place in pools of 50 meters (Olympic pool) or 25 meters (short pool), divided into lanes 2.5 meters wide.
- Swimming styles: competitions are held in four main styles: freestyle (crawl), backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, each with its own techniques and rules of execution.
- Turns and finishes: in the breaststroke and butterfly events, swimmers must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously during turns and finishes. In freestyle and backstroke, a single touch is enough.
- Start: swimmers start the race from starting blocks, except in the backstroke, where they start in the water.
- Disqualification: infractions such as false starts, use of illegal techniques, or failure to comply with the turn and finish rules may result in disqualification.
Read on to find out about the best swimmers in Brazil today.
Modalities
- Individual races: ranging from 50 meters to 1500 meters in different styles.
- Relays: team events that include 4×100 meter freestyle, 4×100 meter medley, among others.
- Individual medley: a combination of all four styles (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle) in a single event.
- Water marathon: long-distance races held on open water, such as rivers, lakes and seas, usually over a 10 km course.
Read on to find out about the best swimmers in Brazil today.
Curiosities
- First Olympic gold: Cesar Cielo was the first Brazilian swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal, winning the 50-meter freestyle at Beijing 2008.
- Dominance in open water: water marathon swimming has gained prominence in Brazil, with Ana Marcela Cunha standing out as one of the greatest water marathoners in history.
- Pioneering: Brazil was the first country in Latin America to have an Olympic swimming pool, inaugurated in 1935 at the Julio Delamare Aquatic Park in Rio de Janeiro.
- Growing popularity: swimming is one of the most popular sports in Brazil, both in sports clubs and in sports initiation programs in schools.
Read on to find out about the best swimmers in Brazil today.
Best swimmers in Brazil today – Men
Cesar Cielo
- History: He started swimming at the age of 8 and quickly excelled in national and international competitions.
- Titles: Olympic gold medalist in the 50-meter freestyle (Beijing 2008) and bronze medalist in the 100-meter freestyle (Beijing 2008); multiple world championships.
- Fun facts: He has held the world record for the 50-meter freestyle since 2009.
Bruno Fratus
- History: Fratus began competing at a high level from a young age, excelling in speed events.
- Titles: bronze medal in the 50-meter freestyle at Tokyo 2020; multiple medals at world and Pan-American championships.
- Fun facts: Recognized for his consistency in the 50-meter freestyle, he remained among the best in the world for almost a decade.
Read on to find out about the best swimmers in Brazil today.
Guilherme Costa
- History: A specialist in long-distance races, Guilherme excelled in national competitions before achieving international success.
- Titles: Holder of several South American records in the 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle races.
- Fun facts: first Brazilian to swim the 1500-meter freestyle in under 15 minutes.
Leonardo de Deus
- History: Focused on backstroke and butterfly, Leonardo is one of Brazil’s most experienced swimmers.
- Títulos: múltiplas medalhas em Jogos Pan-Americanos e finalista olímpico.
- Fun facts: he is known for his versatility and ability to compete in various distances and styles.
Read on to find out about the best swimmers in Brazil today.
Best swimmers in Brazil today – Women
Ana Marcela Cunha
- History: she started competing in water marathons at a young age and quickly became one of the best in the world.
- Titles: Olympic champion at Tokyo 2020; multiple world titles and FINA best of the year.
- Fun facts: Six times voted the best aquatic marathon runner in the world by FINA.
Etiene Medeiros
- History: A specialist in backstroke and freestyle, Etiene has been one of the main representatives of Brazilian women’s swimming.
- Titles: first Brazilian swimmer to win gold at the short course world championships.
- Fun facts: South American record holder in various distances and styles.
Jhennifer Conceição
- História: focada no estilo peito, Jhennifer tem se destacado em competições nacionais e internacionais.
- Títulos: medalhas em campeonatos sul-americanos e etapas da Copa do Mundo de Natação.
- Curiosidades: conhecida por sua rapidez nas provas de 50 metros peito.
Viviane Jungblut
- History: A swimmer in cross-country races and water marathons, Viviane has excelled in both swimming pools and open water.
- Titles: medals at the Pan American Games and South American championships.
- Fun facts: first Brazilian woman to complete the 10 km race at a World Aquatics Championship.
Did you enjoy reading about the best swimmers in Brazil today? Then read on:
- Best swimmers in the world today
- Top 20 female swimmers in Brazil today
- 20 best female swimmers in the world today
