South America shines with Cielo and Felipe Lima

. South America shines with Cielo and Felipe Lima

The Brazilian Cesar Cielo is now the only non-North American , Australian or European to have five gold medals in the FINA World Championships in long course . He won for the second straight gold from 50m butterfly ( 23:01). Brazil already has seven medals in the competition ( 2 golds , 2 silvers , 3 bronzes ), an unprecedented campaign to the country's history in the FINA World .

Celebrating the result that puts even higher in the history of Brazilian and world swimming , Cesar said the race was tense .

- It was a different race , very tense and nervous . Everyone is looking lopsided ... One thing different from what we 're used to. The last 10 meters made ​​all the difference for me . I bet on not breathing . First time I did not breathe in the 50m butterfly. The first major hit was that times were much worse than the semifinal round . But I'm very happy . If the world ended now I was satisfied . Win the race after my operation and recovery was special . I have a picture of Nadal and Ronaldo in my room , which had the same problem I had in the knees and were great athletes . Thank God there is a lot of people who believe in me. I feel very relieved . Bring on more things , more titles ... I'm 26 and still a lot can still happen .

Cesar struggled for some time with tendinopathy in both knees , in September 2012 did the operation and passed the long recovery period until ready to compete again. In April , the Maria Lenk Trophy which selected the group to Barcelona even declared : " My main opponent s are both my knees ."

The podium was completed by Australian Eugene Godsoe , 23s05 , and the great friend of Cielo , French Frederick Bousquet , 23:11 . In the same test , Nicholas Santos , who ended the semifinal with a best time , failed to repeat the performance and hit the crossbar to stay in 4th place scoring 23:21 , 10 hundredths behind Bousquet .

- Do not turn out as I wanted, but this podium speed is there. I did not get on the board as well . I'm not happy , but it was what I had to do - summed Nicholas Santos.

Cesar still have the 50 free in Barcelona and who knows what could happen!

One of the good news of the night was the podium in the 100m breaststroke for Felipe Lima . Swimmer won the bronze with the best time of his career , 59:65 . In front of him arrived the ones who managed to swim at around 58 seconds . The Australian Christian Sprenger , 58:79 , and world record holder and Olympic champion , South African Cameron van der Burgh , 58:97 .

- I was s wimming t he best time of my life since the prelims and was lowering increasingly hitting some details . Today I spent a lot stronger , accompanying Cameron and went up and got to this excellent result , 59:65 . I think in the first 50 meters were where I made the great decision that was very strong back with Cameron . I was looking for the best result and the best was a bronze medal - said .

Philip, who in several competitions has not reached the end , left relieved and happy .

- I had this mission to come here and swim my best times . It m eans the realization of a dream , because I was searching for a long time to swim below the minute and swam twice this competition below that - he said. Felipe became second in the first 50 meters with 27:27 , just behind Cameron , 26:83 , while Sprenger turned in third position with 27:38 .