At the age of 42, Nicholas Santos is four times world champion in the 50m butterfly

The Brazilian Nicholas Santos, 42 years old, was left in the 50-meter butterfly event at the Short Course World Cup that started this Wednesday (14) and runs until Sunday (18), in Melbourne (Australia). The São Paulo native from Ribeirão Preto won his fourth championship – and the country’s first medal in the competition – by winning the race in 21s78, leaving behind the Swiss Noe Ponti (21.96) aged 21, and the Hungarian Sebastian Szabo (21.98), aged 26 years old. After the triumph, the swimmer announced his retirement. THE BIGGEST WE HAVE! 🇺🇸You were and will always be a giant, @nicholassantos1🥇🥇🥇🥇#nataaco #yakultbrasil #fluidrabrasil #speedoMSport #Estacio #FinaMelbourne2022 pic.twitter.com/37sjzgtKnz — CBDA (@CBDAoficial) December 14, 2022 “It wasn’t easy swimming with this weather. I’m getting old and leaving it to the young. I was trying to break the world record, my own record. I’ve been close, but it’s not easy. I tried a few times”, lamented Santos, in testimony to the International Swimming Federation (World Aquatics). Today (14) the São Paulo native updated the competition record, which was his own, but was three hundredths away from breaking the world record of 21s75, which he shares with Hungarian Szabo. “I left swimming at the age of 42 and I am very happy and proud. I’m a four-time world champion in this event and I leave the sport as a world record holder, Pan American and Olympic champion”, added the swimmer who competed in his 18th career World Championship. In 2015, when he won gold at the Worlds in the long course at the age of 35, Nicholas Santos became the oldest swimmer to reach the podium in the competition. Since then, the Brazilian has won four other medals: silver (2017/long course) , gold (2018/short), bronze (2019/feature) and gold (2021/short). Before, Nicholas had already won a gold (2012/short) and a silver (2014/feature). South American record The first day of the Worlds also broke the record in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay, led by the Brazilian team formed by Aline Rodrigues, Stephanie Balduccini, Gabrielle Roncatto and Giovanna Diamante. In the qualifiers, the Brazilians scored 7m48s42, finishing in seventh place.


Agência Brasil