Andre Souza Leads Brazilian Trials 100 FR Prelims at PR 48.0, Six Men Break 49

2021 BRAZILIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS

• Monday, April 19th – Saturday, April 24th
• Prelims at 9:30 am local; Finals at 6:30 pm local
• Long Course Meters (50 meters), prelims/finals
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The fourth day of prelims at the 2021 Brazilian Olympic Trials featured the men’s 100 free, one of the most highly anticipated events. The Brazilian men’s sprinting tradition is a strong one, and they’re in the mix of countries expected to vie for medals in the 4×100 free relay in Tokyo this summer.

Those prelims were no snooze, as six men broke the 49-second barrier, led by 20-year-old Andre Souza with a huge lifetime best of 48.09. That ranks him #6 all-time in Brazilian history.

Souza’s old best was a 48.74 at the Maria Lenk Trophy in April 2019, done when he was 18. This morning, he was 23.0/25.0 on his splits, able to finish well ahead of Pedro Spajari (48.55). Souza now ranks #8 in the world this year.

Spajari was clear in second, with four 48-highs following. Lucas Peixoto, another 20-year-old, erased his old best of 49.36 from the South American Championships earlier this year to take third at 48.82, his first time under 49. Breno Correia was fourth in 48.87, ahead of Felipe Souza (48.94) and the oldest competitor to make the final by five years, veteran Marcelo Chierighini (48.95). Also making the final were 2000-born Victor Alcara (49.19 best time) and 1998-born Marco Ferreira (49.20).

Gabriel Santos, the #5 performer in Brazilian history with a 47.98 from 2018, missed the final by .02 at ninth with a 49.22, going out hard (23.04) but not able to bring it home (26.18).

Correia and Chierighini swam for Team Brazil in the individual 100 free at 2019 Worlds, and they made the final, with Chierighini cracking a 47.93 for fifth and Correia taking eighth. Spajari was also on the 4×100 free relay at Worlds which took sixth, while Andre Souza (the prelims leader today) swam on the prelims relay, replaced by 50 free specialist Bruno Fratus in the final.

Fratus, a staple in the Brazilian swimming world, attempted Tokyo qualification in the 50 free at the Mission Viejo PSS meet recently, where he went a 21.73 to get under the cut. That meet was designated as his Trials meet as he’s been training in the States. Should that time hold up with the 50 free here at the Brazilian Trials, he can join the team for Tokyo.

The favorite to win the men’s 200 breast tonight, Georgia Tech star Caio Pumputis, led the prelims with a 2:16.37 ahead of Raphael Rodrigues (2:17.67). Pumputis’s lifetime best is a 2:09.93, which is a few tenths better than the FINA ‘A’ cut of 2:10.35– he’ll target that tonight.

In the sole women’s prelims, Giovanna Diamante swam to the leading 200 fly time. She clocked a 2:15.64, which is well off of the FINA ‘A’ cut needed for Brazilian team selection, a 2:08.43. Her best time of 2:11.82 is much closer to the cut, though; she went that time in 2019 to make her the #3 performer in Brazilian history.