With the majority of the major international trials meets wrapping up in April, including Australia, Japan and Great Britain, Brazil remains one of the few yet to take place (along with the U.S. who traditionally have their trials much later than everyone else). The Brazilian Maria Lenk Trophy will take place from May 2-6 and will serve as the trials for both the 2017 World Championships and Junior World Championships, though the selection criteria remains up in the air.
According to the General Director of the Brazilian Confederation of Aquatic Sports, Ricardo Prado, the qualification criteria won’t be defined until May 11th during a meeting after the competition takes place. This will be the first time in “many years” that athletes won’t know whether or not they have qualified for the biggest international meet of the year upon conclusion of the Maria Lenk Trophy.
Per Globo.com, there was a bulletin issued last year that would limit the number of Brazilian swimmers at Worlds to eight due to lack of funds, but leaders of Brazilian swimming expect this criterion to change. For a point of reference, they sent 26 to the 2015 World Championships in Kazan and 33 to the Olympics last year in their home country.
The meet will feature Brazil’s top swimmers, including Cesar Cielo who will look to redeem himself after shockingly missing the Olympic team last year. Cielo will compete in the 50 free, 100 free and 50 fly. Take a look at a breakdown of the psych sheets here.
After a four medal performance at the 2015 Worlds, the Brazilian swimmers will face a little bit of pressure in Budapest after delivering zero medals on their home soil at the 2016 Olympics. They have lost three-time World Championship medalist Thiago Pereira to retirement, but have a good chance of earning medals in non-Olympic events such as the 50 back with Etiene Medeiros and potentially the 50 fly with Cesar Cielo.
no wonder why they let the Olympic installations to die slowly ……without re-using them properly .
The Fund problem is “solved” partially by a emergency funding, but probably they are waiting to see the team level to decide how many they will take.. So, 8 are assured to go, but the number may increase if the times are probably good for semis at least.. or to put the relays on finals..