Brazil’s Cesar Cielo: 50m freestyle Olympic champion
Brazil’s Cesar Cielo is one of the greatest 50m freestyle champions who demonstrated his dynamic swimming talent at various world levels. Cielo’s dazzling swimming style coupled with his gruelling training strategy has enabled him to reach the top of the
podium at some of the world’s largest swimming tournaments in a short time.
Cielo made his debut on the world stage at the 2004 World Short Course Championships, where he earned a silver medal in the 4*100m freestyle relay.
At the 2007 Pan American Games, he represented his country in the events of 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4*100m freestyle relay and the 4*100m medley relay. He earned the gold medal in the 50m freestyle by touching the wall in a time of 21.84 seconds ahead
of his team member Nicholas Santos and George Bovell, who touched the wall in 22.18 and 22.36 seconds.
The 24-year-old Cielo conquered the top of the podium once again in the 100m freestyle in a time of 48.79 seconds that provided him a comfortable lead from his rivals Jose Meolans and Gabe Woodward. He also helped the Brazilian team to reach the top of the
podium for the 4*100m freestyle relay while he won a silver medal in the 4*100m medley relay.
The year gave a big boost to the Brazilian kid, with three gold medals and one silver medal he became the spotlight of the media and swimming fans. His astounding performance at these championships qualified him to represent his beloved country at the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games. Cielo participated in the events of 50m freestyle and the 100m freestyle at these Games.
He occupied a gold medal in the 50m freestyle in an Olympic record time of 21.30 seconds and improved the 16-year-old record held by Alexander Popov of Russia. He also won the hearts of the crowd after he defeated the great Australian Eamon Sullivan and
French Alain Bernard in the 50m event. Cielo earned more respect from the crowd when he reached the podium for the bronze medal behind his 50m event’s competitors Alain Bernard and Sullivan.
The following year, Cielo acquired a more gruelling swimming plan under the guidance of his coach Brett Hawke, who has been training him for a long time. Cielo’s hard work proved his brilliance and determination when he participated at the 2009 World Championships
in Rome. Cielo competed in the events of 50m freestyle, the 100m freestyle and the 4*100m freestyle relay.
He earned a gold medal in the 50m freestyle in a championship record time of 21.08 seconds while he improved the world record for the 100m freestyle in a time of 46.91 seconds and defeated the 2008 Beijing’s gold medallist Alain Bernard. His participation
in the 4*100m freestyle relay failed to bring the Brazilian team on the podium at the championship.
In 2010, at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, he participated in the 50m butterfly along with his main events of the 50m and 100m freestyle. Cielo earned a gold medal in the 50m butterfly, a silver medal in the 50m freestyle and a bronze medal in
the 100m freestyle.
The same year at the World Short Course Championships in Dubai, Cielo won a gold medal in the 50m freestyle and the 100m freestyle in a championship record time of 20.51 and 45.74 seconds respectively. He also won two bronze medals in the 4*100m freestyle
relay and the 4*100m medley relay.
Now, in 2011, Cielo has qualified for the World Championships and aims to defend his world titles of the 50m and 100m freestyle at the World Long Course Championships in Shanghai this July.
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