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Nicholas SANTOS
Sport Swimming
NOC Brazil   
GenderMen
Born14 Feb 1980 in Ribeirão Prêto, BRA
Height1.91 m
 Human Interest 
General Interest
Awards and honours
In 2018 and 2020 he received the South American Male Swimmer of the Year award from swimming website SwimSwam in its Swammy Awards. (swimswam.com, 02 Jan 2019, 30 Dec 2020)
Sport Specific Information
Training Regime
He trains five days per week at the Olympic Training Centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His weekly programme includes eight sessions in the water and three more at the gym.
Further Personal Information
Residence
São Paulo, BRA
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team
Universidade Santa Cecilia [Unisanta]: Santos, BRA
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began swimming at age three.
Further Personal Information
Occupation
Athlete, Manager, Physiotherapist
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
His father ran a diving school, so he was around the pool from an early age.
General Interest
Hero / Idol
Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna. (cob.org.br, 2015)
Further Personal Information
Languages
English, Portuguese
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Do not give up. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." (cob.org.br, 2015)
Other information
OLDEST MEDALLIST
In 2019, at age 39, he became the oldest swimmer to win a medal in the pool at the world championships after finishing third in the 50m butterfly at the 2019 edition of the tournament in Gwangju, Republic Korea. He only competed in Gwangju after receiving an invitation from the International Swimming Federation [FINA]. "It's fantastic for me. I wouldn't even have come if it weren't for the invitation FINA gave me. I am satisfied getting another world championship medal at age 39. At my age I first have to decide in which event I can compete. I cannot swim the 50m and 100m butterfly, as well as the 50m freestyle, so I opted for only 50m butterfly, an event it's easier for me to swim and for which I have so much affection." Two years later, in 2021, he became the oldest swimmer to win a title at the world championships [long and short course] when he claimed gold in the 50m butterfly at the 2021 World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. "For me, it's such a challenge to be here at age 41. The others are pretty fast, but competing in a world championship final is such a pressure that it might have an effect. I did it a lot of times, so I didn't feel that pressure quite like the younger ones. So, this is awesome to win again." (fina.org, 07 Jan 2022; rededoesporte.gov.br, 22 Jul 2019)

TEAM MANAGER
He is team manager for Brazilian professional swimming team Oxygen, which launched in 2021. (Oxygen Swimming Instagram profile, 06 Jan 2022; terra.com.br, 24 Nov 2021; swimswam.com, 21 Apr 2021)

FURTHER EDUCATION
He has a master's degree in business administration. (espn.uol.com.br, 08 Aug 2017; veja.abril.com.br, 27 Jul 2017)
Injuries
He sustained a chest muscle injury in 2017. He recovered in time to compete at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. (espn.uol.com.br, 08 Aug 2017)
Further Personal Information
Family
Son Nicholas [2016]
General Interest
Milestones
At age 41 years and 309 days, he became the oldest swimmer to win a gold medal at the world championships [long and short course] when he claimed victory in the 50m butterfly at the 2021 World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He had previously become the oldest swimmer to win a medal in the pool at the long course world championships, when he claimed bronze in the 50m butterfly at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, at age 39 years and 158 days. (SportsDeskOnline, 04 Feb 2022; fina.org, 07 Jan 2022; globoesporte.globo.com, 23 Jul 2019)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach
Felipe Domingues [personal]
Further Personal Information
Higher education
Physiotherapy - Paulista University: São Paulo, BRA
General Interest
Hobbies
Reading. (terra.com.br, 24 Nov 2021)

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
Semifinal 2008 Beijing, CHN 50m Freestyle 22.15
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2022 Budapest, HUN 50m Butterfly 22.78
3 2019 Gwangju, KOR 50m Butterfly 22.79
2 2017 Budapest, HUN 50m Butterfly 22.79 
2 2015 Kazan, RUS 50m Butterfly 23.09
4 2013 Barcelona, ESP 50m Butterfly 23.21
Heats 2013 Barcelona, ESP 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:36.31
5 2009 Rome, ITA 50m Butterfly 23.00
Semifinal 2009 Rome, ITA 50m Freestyle 21.69
Heats 2003 Barcelona, ESP 50m Butterfly 25.15
30 2001 Fukuoka, JPN 50m Freestyle 23.04
28 2001 Fukuoka, JPN 50m Butterfly 24.83
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2022 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 50m Butterfly 21.78
8 2022 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:26.34
1 2021 Abu Dhabi, UAE 50m Butterfly 21.93
Heats 2021 Abu Dhabi, UAE 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:41.44
4 2021 Abu Dhabi, UAE 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
1 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 50m Butterfly 21.81
3 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:31.49
4 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:22.00
Heats 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 4 x 50m Medley Relay  
9 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 50m Butterfly 22.82 
32 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 50m Freestyle 21.95 
2 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:37.74
Semifinal 2014 Doha, QAT 100m Butterfly 50.79
2 2014 Doha, QAT 50m Butterfly 22.08
1 2014 Doha, QAT 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:30.51
1 2014 Doha, QAT 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:37.26
1 2012 Istanbul, TUR 50m Butterfly 22.22
Heats 2012 Istanbul, TUR 50m Freestyle 21.50
4 2010 Dubai, UAE 50m Butterfly 22.45
Semifinal 2010 Dubai, UAE 50m Freestyle 21.43
3 2010 Dubai, UAE 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:05.74
21 2006 Shanghai, CHN 50m Butterfly 24.19
7 2006 Shanghai, CHN 50m Freestyle 21.90
5 2006 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:12.68
  2004 Indianapolis, IN, USA 50m Butterfly  DNS
3 2004 Indianapolis, IN, USA 50m Freestyle 21.71
8 2004 Indianapolis, IN, USA 100m Freestyle 48.88
2 2004 Indianapolis, IN, USA 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:12.73
23 2002 Moscow, RUS 50m Freestyle 22.52
13 2002 Moscow, RUS 50m Butterfly 24.15
Pan American Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2011 Guadalajara, MEX 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:14.65
2 2007 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 50m Freestyle 22.18
1 2007 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
World Cup
Rank Year Venue Event Result
11 2018   Overall Ranking  
3 2018 Budapest, HUN 100m Butterfly 50.12
1 2018 Budapest, HUN 50m Butterfly 21.75
2 2018 Eindhoven, NED 100m Butterfly 50.22
1 2018 Eindhoven, NED 50m Butterfly 22.08
22 2013   Overall  
5 2013 Beijing, CHN 100m Freestyle 47.40
1 2013 Beijing, CHN 50m Butterfly 22.13
6 2013 Beijing, CHN 50m Freestyle 21.48
3 2013 Beijing, CHN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:31.45
4 2013 Singapore, SGP 100m Freestyle 47.38
3 2013 Singapore, SGP 50m Butterfly 22.63
4 2013 Singapore, SGP 100m Butterfly 51.70
5 2013 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 21.40
5 2013 Tokyo, JPN 100m Freestyle 47.31
5 2013 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 21.27
2 2013 Tokyo, JPN 50m Butterfly 22.33
2 2013 Tokyo, JPN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:30.41
2 2010 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 50m Butterfly 23.23
3 2010 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 50m Freestyle 21.76
14 2009   Overall  
3 2009 Berlin, GER 50m Butterfly 22.17
16 2008   Overall  
1 2008 Belo Horizonte, BRA 50m Butterfly 23.06
3 2008 Belo Horizonte, BRA 50m Freestyle 21.53
2 2008 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 21.43
3 2005/2006 New York, NY, USA 50m Freestyle 21.73
3 2004/2005 Belo Horizonte, BRA 50m Freestyle 22.11
3 2004/2005 Durban, RSA 50m Freestyle 22.02