Nicholas Santos & Etiene Medeiros Make Returns To Elite Degree Competitors

SP Winter Swim Open

• April 23-25, 2026
• Clube Paneiras do Marumby, São Paulo, Brazil
• 50 meters (LCM)
• Results

At the age of 46, Brazilian Olympian and former world file holder Nicholas Santos made good on his promise to return to elite stage competitors. In his residence state of São Paulo, Santos threw down a 23.63 50 fly, successful the state swim federation’s winter championships in opposition to some opponents who’re practically 1/3 of his age.

Santos, who has been making waves in masters swimming, introduced his return to elite competitors in February with LA 2028 aspirations. Santos was born in February of 1980, making him older than the final Olympic Games that have been held in Los Angeles in 1984. Age is proving not a lot of a constraint for the 6x World Champion. We already knew this when he grew to become the oldest swimming world champion in historical past in 2022, however this weekend was a reinforcement.

A 23-second 50 fly time is unprecedented for someone Santos’ age. Before Santos, the grasp world file for 45-49 within the occasion stood at 24.96 by South African Marc Kevin Allan. By Santos’ requirements, although, a 23.6 isn’t significantly notable, on condition that he went 23.15 final November to reset the masters world file. This swim does, nevertheless, mark the milestone of formally returning to nationwide stage aggressive swimming. He will compete on the Maria Lenk Trophy, which doubles as Brazilian nationals, starting on May 18.

In order to qualify for LA 2028 in a 50 stroke, one should both end prime six on the 2027 World Cup or be positioned within the occasion by your crew after qualifying in one other occasion. As a body of reference, the #6 50 fly performer on this planet this yr earlier than championship season stands at 22.99.

Santos was not the one 2010s Brazilian world champion making a comeback this weekend. 2017 ladies’s 50 backstroke gold medalist Etiene Medeiros additionally made her return to the highlight in São Paulo, successful the 50 backstroke in a brand new meet file of 28.46. Medeiros is 34 years outdated, now a mom, and had not competed since 2022. João Gomes Junior, a now-40-year-old multi-time World Championships medalist, received the 50 breaststroke in 27.54. Don’t name it a comeback, although, as he has been swimming persistently at nationwide stage meets all through the last decade.