Gustavo Borges
Gustavo França Borges (born December 2, 1972) is a Brazilian former competitive swimmer.[1] He swam for Brazil in the Summer Olympic Games in: 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004. Borges has won the second-most Olympic medals of any Brazilian, with four—one in 1992, two in 1996 and one in 2000—behind sailors Robert Scheidt and Torben Grael. He also has the third-most Pan American Games gold medals of any Brazilian, with eight—behind swimmer Thiago Pereira and table tennis player Hugo Hoyama. Borges was Brazil's flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Borges' first medal was silver, which he won in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1992 Olympics, which he received after a delay because his lane's timer was not working, and the judges had to review video recordings of the race to verify his place.[2] Borges even overcame his idol, Matt Biondi, to win the silver medal.
Borges lives in
Beginning
Borges was born in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, but lived in Ituverava throughout his childhood. In 1981, at the age of nine, he represented his school, coming third place in a race of 50-meter freestyle, his first podium finish. Before this, he had participated in swimming lessons at Associação Atlética Ituveravense.[5] In 1984, in São João da Boa Vista, Gustavo won his first medal in official competitions in a 100-meter breaststroke race. Borges was a runner-up of the São Paulo state, and runner-up of the Teto Olímpico at breaststroke, category 11/12 years.[5]
In 1987, Borges was 15 years old and swimming for the Associação Atlética Francana. He won the bronze medal in the 100-meter freestyle and silver in the 50-meter freestyle at the São Paulo Swimming Championship, Youth category A / B. In this year, Borges left Ituverava, moved to São Carlos and defended the São Carlos Clube. In 1988, at the São Paulo's Summer Youth Championship, he was a champion in the 50-meter freestyle and silver in the 100-meter freestyle. Borges' times were already good enough to participate in the Brazilian Championship, Júlio Delamare Trophy.[5]
In 1991, Borges joined The Bolles School in Jacksonville and instantly became one of the top prep swimmers in the United States.[citation needed] He was the primary swimmer on Bolles' 1991 400 Freestyle Relay team that set a national high-school record with a 2:59.98.[citation needed] That relay, which broke the old national record by 1.70 seconds, would go on to be met with controversy in the coming years regarding its claim as the national mark.[citation needed] This was due to the fact that the Florida high-school season takes place in the fall, but the meet in which the record was set occurred at a prep school invitational in Philadelphia in February 1991. The relay would stand as the fastest-ever swam by a high-school team until 2012.
International career
1989: National prominence
In 1989, after joining the Esporte Clube Pinheiros, Gustavo Borges began to gain national fame; when he was only 17 years old, he began beating the swimmer Cristiano Michelena, which held hegemony in the 100-meter and 200-meter in Brazil. He won the Brazil Trophy, the biggest tournament in the country, winning two gold medals in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle.[5]
1990: Steps to the outside
In 1990, Borges began to succeed in international competitions. In the South American championship held in
1991: Pan Champion
At the 1991 World Aquatics Championships, Borges finished in 12th in the 100-meter freestyle, breaking the South American record with a time of 50.77 seconds, and also in the 50-meter freestyle (23.15 seconds).[5] He also finished 28th in the 200-meter freestyle.[6] Borges won his first important international medals in the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana. He won the 100-meter freestyle where he set a Pan Am Games record, and was silver medalist in 200-meter freestyle and bronze in the 50-meter freestyle, breaking the South American record.[5][7] He also won gold in the 4×100-meter freestyle, and silver in the 4×200-meter freestyle.[7]
1992: From Brazil, to the World
In 1992, Gustavo Borges broke the Brazilian Olympic medals fasting in swimming, which was set at the
1993: Champion, and World Record holder
In 1993, Borges broke three
1994: Two bronzes
At the September 1994 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Borges won bronze in the 100-meter freestyle and in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.[5][10] He also finished fourth in the 50-meter freestyle and 11th in the 200-meter freestyle.[11]
1995: Two-times World and Pan champion
1995 was an important year for Borges. In March at the 1995 Pan American Games held in Argentina, he became two-time champion of the 100-meter freestyle and won gold in the 200-meter freestyle, both with Pan Am Games records. He won two more silver medals in the 4×100-meter and 4×200-meter freestyle events.[12] In August, he went to the 1995 Summer Universiade, where he won two silver medals in the 100-meter freestyle and 4×100-meter freestyle. At the end of the year, at the 1995 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Rio de Janeiro, Borges became two-time 4×100-meter freestyle champion. He also won the 200-meter freestyle gold, breaking the South American record, with a time of 1:45.55, silver in the 100-meter freestyle and bronze in the 4×200-meter freestyle.[10][13][14]
1996: Two Olympic medals
Borges participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and became the first Brazilian to win three Olympic medals, a feat achieved by Torben Grael in the same games. Borges won the silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 1:48.08, and bronze in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 49.02 seconds, both South American records. The 100-meter freestyle record was only beaten by Fernando Scherer in August 1998, and the 200-metre freestyle was only beaten by Rodrigo Castro in 2008. Borges also finished fourth in the 4×100-meter freestyle and 12th in the 50-meter freestyle.[5][10]
1997: The fourth World's gold
At the
1998: The fourth World Record
At the
1999: The best Pan
In the
2000: Four medals in three Olympics
The
2002: The last world medal
At the 2002 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Moscow, Borges won a silver in the 200-meter freestyle; it was his last FINA world medal.[5][20] He also finished fourth in the 4×200-meter freestyle, with a time of 0.4s, which won him the bronze medal.[21] Borges was in fifth place in the 4×100-meter freestyle,[22] seventh place in the 100-metre freestyle[23] and seventh place in the 4×100-metre medley[24] In this tournament, Borges broke—for the last time in his career—the South American record in short course in the 4×200-meter freestyle, with a time of 7:09.14,[25] and in the 4×100-meter medley with 3:35.59.[26][27]
2003: Last Pan
In July, at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Borges was in the 4×100-meter freestyle team, which finished in 12th place'[28] He was also in teams for the 4×200-meter freestyle—which finished ninth[29] and the 4×100-meter medley—which finished 17th.[30]
In August 2003 at the age of 30, Borges took part in the 2003 Pan American Games—his fourth and final Pan American Games—which were held in Santo Domingo. He established himself as the greatest Brazilian medalist in the history of the tournament, having won 19 podium finishes, eight gold medals, eight silver and three bronze. In these Games, Borges helped Brazil's swimming team to win 21 medals—a record. Borges won gold in the 4×100-meter freestyle, silver in 4×200-meter freestyle, and bronze in the 100-meter freestyle.[31][32]
Also in 2003, Borges launches a book titled "Lessons from the water". He also became an entrepreneur, managing the Gustavo Borges Natação e Fitness in Curitiba.[5]
2004: Retirement from professional swimming
At the age of 31, Borges retired from swimming after competing in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. His only event was the qualifying for the 4×100-meter freestyle, in which Brazil finished in 12th place and did not reach the finals.[5][10] Having previously missed four opening ceremonies due to swimming contests the next day, and never witnessing any Brazilian medal other than Scherer in 1996, Borges decided to watch the rest of the Olympics, and was Brazil's flag bearer at the closing ceremony.[33][34]
Hall of Fame
In 2012, Borges joined the International Swimming Hall of Fame, becoming the second Brazilian to be honored by the institution – the first was Maria Lenk in 1988.[35]
Records
Gustavo Borges is the former holder of the following records:[36]
Race | Time | Date | Record | Pool | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50m freestyle [37] | 22.82 | August 1991 | South American | Long Course | ||
100m freestyle | 49.02 | July 22, 1996 | South American | Long Course | ||
200m freestyle[38] | 1:48.08 | July 20, 1996 | South American | Long Course | ||
4 × 100 m freestyle[39] | 3:17.18 | August 1999 | South American | Long Course | ||
4 × 200 m freestyle[40][41] | 7:22.92 | August 1999 | South American | Long Course | ||
4 × 100 m medley[42] | 3:40.27 | August 1999 | South American | Long Course | ||
50m freestyle | 21.90 | June 27, 1997 | Brazilian | Short Course | ||
100m freestyle[43][44] | 47.14 | December 19, 1998 | South American | Short Course | ||
200m freestyle[44][45] | 1:44.40 | December 18, 1998 | South American | Short Course | ||
4 × 100 m freestyle[46] | 3:10.45 | December 20, 1998 | World | Short Course | ||
4 × 200 m freestyle[25] | 7:09.14 | April 4, 2002 | South American | Short Course | ||
4 × 100 m medley[26][47] | 3:35.59 | April 7, 2002 | South American | Short Course |
See also
- List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
- List of University of Michigan alumni
- Pan American Games records in swimming
- South American records in swimming
- World record progression 100 metres freestyle
References
- ^ Borges entry from sports-reference.com; retrieved 2012-03-24.
- ^ (in Portuguese) Gustavo Borges profile, UOL Olimpíadas
- ^ (in Portuguese) Academia Gustavo Borges
- ^ "Perfil Gustavo Borges". Gustavo Borges Oficial. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Gustavo Borges' History". Gustavo Borges-Official Site (in Portuguese). 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results at 1991 Perth" (PDF). USA Swimming. 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ a b "Brazil medals at 1991 Pan". UOL (in Portuguese). 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "From Ituverava to the gallery of heroes in an Olympic year". O Globo (in Portuguese). July 29, 1992. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Brazilian swimming's olympic medals". Estadão (in Portuguese). August 16, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Profile at Sports Reference". Sports Reference. 2012. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results at 1994 Rome" (PDF). USA Swimming. 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ "Brazil medals at 1995 Pan". UOL (in Portuguese). 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ O GLOBO News Archive - December 1, 1995, Morning, Sports, page 30
- ^ FINA's history. Volume III is about the World Short Course Swimming, part "a" has the statistics of the male part "b" of the female.
- ^ "Results at 1998 Perth" (PDF). USA Swimming. 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ "Rebeca Record is approved". CBDA (in Portuguese). August 22, 2001. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ a b "Current Brazil wants to overcome 1999 Brazil". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). July 20, 2003. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Brazil medals at 1999 Pan". UOL (in Portuguese). 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ 1999 Full results by Swimnews
- ^ "Brazil is fifth in the final in the 4×100-metre freestyle". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). April 3, 2002. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results of the 4×200-metre freestyle at 2002 Moscow". OmegaTiming. April 4, 2002. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results of the 4×100-metre freestyle at 2002 Moscow". OmegaTiming. April 3, 2002. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results of the 100-metre freestyle at 2002 Moscow". OmegaTiming. April 7, 2002. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results of the 4×100-metre medley at 2002 Moscow". OmegaTiming. April 7, 2002. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ a b "Brazil's Relay loses bronze for 0.4 s in the World Championship". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). April 4, 2002. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ a b "Brazilian Success at 25 meters". CBDA (in Portuguese). October 11, 2004. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results of the 4×100-metre medley at 2002 Moscow". OmegaTiming (in Portuguese). April 7, 2002. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results of the 4×100-metre freestyle at 2003 Barcelona". OmegaTiming. July 20, 2003. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results of the 4×200-metre freestyle at 2003 Barcelona". OmegaTiming. July 23, 2003. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Results of the 4×100-metre medley at 2003 Barcelona". OmegaTiming. July 27, 2003. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Brazil medals at 2003 Pan". UOL (in Portuguese). 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Ten historic achievements of Brazil in the Pan". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). June 13, 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ Borges encerra carreira gloriosa com final melancólico
- ^ Festa de encerramento transfere a Olimpíada de Atenas para Pequim
- ^ "Olympic medalist, Gustavo Borges enters the Hall of Fame". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). May 9, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ "Men's Swimming Records". CBDA (in Portuguese). 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Men monopolize Olympic swimming". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). July 6, 1992. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Rodrigo Castro breaks last South American record of Gustavo Borges". UOL (in Portuguese). August 10, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Brazilian relay enters the final and the Olympics". CBDA (in Portuguese). March 25, 2007. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "4×200m medley team regrets staying off the end for small difference". COB (in Portuguese). August 17, 2004. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Brazil medals at 1999 Pan". UOL (in Portuguese). 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Super team hits Winnipeg's record". CBDA (in Portuguese). September 9, 2006. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Cielo hits Borges's brazilian record, and Meolans's South American record". CBDA (in Portuguese). November 23, 2007. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ a b "Gustavo Borges in good shape". UOL (in Portuguese). December 20, 1998. Archived from the original on August 7, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Two South American records in South-Brazilian". Best Swimming (in Portuguese). May 22, 2009. Archived from the original on May 23, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "In 1998, Brazil beat the world record 4×100 freestyle relay". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). December 21, 1998. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ "Results of the 4×100m relay at 2002 Moscow" (PDF). OmegaTiming. April 7, 2002. Retrieved May 8, 2013.[permanent dead link]
External links
- Official website (in Portuguese)