COUNTRY TIDBITS Editor’s Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the performances for each of the following swimmers were swum at last year’s World Championships in Shanghai, China (July 24-31, 2011).
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Argentina (ARG) Juan Martin Pereyra placed in the top 20 in a trio of events in Shanghai, taking 16th in the men’s 800 free (7:59.05), 17th in the 1500 free (15:21.92) and 20th in the 400 free (3:51.03).
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7HILE "RAZIL S #ESAR #IELO IS A VIRTUAL LOCK TO MEDAL IN THE FREE AT THE ,ONDON /LYMPICS HIS COMPATRIOT 4HIAGO 0EREIRA WILL be looking to cash in on the monster potential he has shown in regional long course action and in international short course competition.
B
razil’s Thiago Pereira, 26, has been around the block a few times as an international swimmer from Brazil. Prior to Cesar Cielo jumping onto the scene more recently, Pereira was the man most likely to replace Gustavo Borges as Brazil’s best swimmer (Borges won four Olympic medals at four Olympiads from 1992 to 2004). In 2004, he took fifth in the men’s 200 IM at the Athens Olympics, and moved up to fourth in the same event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2007, he broke a Mark Spitz record for most gold medals (five) at the Pan American Games with six. ABOVE » Brazil’s Thiago Pereira, who has had This year, Pereira will be looking for his plenty of international success over the years, first Olympic medal. He has shown the ability to will be looking for his first Olympic medal reach the podium in major international competi- later this year in London. tion, winning a gold medal in the 200 IM at the 2004 World Short Course Championships. However, in an event in which Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps will likely be 1-2 in either order in London, Pereira will probably have to settle for bronze. Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh could be the person most likely to complete the podium in London, winning silver medals at Beijing in the 200 fly, 200 IM and 400 IM. However, Pereira finished 2011 as the third-ranked swimmer in the 200 IM with a 1:57.35 from the Brazilian Long Course Nationals in May. Of course, Lochte and Phelps were in another stratosphere last year at Worlds, clocking 1:54.00 and 1:54.16, respectively. Pereira might also have a shot for a medal in the 400 IM. He finished last year ranked eighth in the event (4:12.52), but his time is only a little more than a second slower than the second fastest time of 2011 (Tyler Clary’s 4:11.17). Lochte turned in the No. 1 ranking with a 4:07.13. ❖ 24
March 2012
DARKHORSE MEDAL CONTENDERS
issue, Swimming World
[PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK]
days until the opening ceremonies