Felipe França Silva

Felipe Alves França da Silva (born 14 May 1987) is a Brazilian breaststroke swimmer, who competed for his country in three Olympic Games.^[1]

Felipe França

Personal information
Full name	Felipe Alves França da Silva
National team	Brazil
Born	(1987-05-14) May 14, 1987 (age 35) Suzano, São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	90 kg (198 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Breaststroke
Medal record Men's swimming Representing Brazil Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 0 0 0 World Championships (LC) 1 1 0 World Championships (SC) 6 0 2 Pan Pacific Championships 1 1 0 Pan American Games 4 0 0 Universiade 0 1 0 Total 12 3 2 World Championships (LC) 2011 Shanghai 50 m breaststroke 2009 Rome 50 m breaststroke World Championships (SC) 2010 Dubai 50 m breaststroke 2014 Doha 50 m breaststroke 2014 Doha 100 m breaststroke 2014 Doha 4×50 m medley 2014 Doha 4×100 m medley 2014 Doha 4×50 m mixed medley 2010 Dubai 100 m breaststroke 2010 Dubai 4×100 m medley Pan Pacific Championships 2010 Irvine 50 m breaststroke 2014 Gold Coast 100 m breaststroke Pan American Games 2011 Guadalajara 100 m breaststroke 2011 Guadalajara 4×100 m medley 2015 Toronto 100 m breaststroke 2015 Toronto 4×100 m medley South American Games 2010 Medellín 50 m breaststroke 2010 Medellín 100 m breaststroke 2010 Medellín 4×100 m medley 2022 Asunción 50 m breaststroke 2006 Buenos Aires 100 m breaststroke 2006 Buenos Aires 50 m breaststroke 2022 Asunción 100 m breaststroke Universiade 2009 Belgrade 50 m breaststroke

He started swimming at Esporte Clube União Suzano when he was just three years old. At age 13, he became the champion in Brazilian Juniors Category II. After training at the Gustavo Borges academy in Curitiba, França moved to the state capital, São Paulo, and joined Esporte Clube Pinheiros.^[2]

International career

2008

In April 2008, França competed in the 2008 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), in the city of Manchester, placing 6th in the 4×100-metre medley,^[3] 12th in the 100-metre breaststroke,^[4] and 13th in the 50-metre breaststroke.^[5]

A month later, in May 2008, Felipe França captured the second Brazilian spot for the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 100-metre breaststroke, recording a time of 1:01.17 at the Brazilian Olympic trials.^[6][7] However, at the 2008 Olympics, he failed to move on from the early heats in his individual event.^[8] In the end, França finished 22nd in the 100-metre breaststroke and, along with his teammates, placed 14th in the 4×100-metre medley relay.^[9]

2009

At the 2009 Brazilian Championships (Maria Lenk Trophy), França became the first swimmer to record a time under 27 seconds in the long-course 50-metre breaststroke, winning the event with the World Record time of 26.89 seconds.^[10][11]

At the 2009 Summer Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia, França won the silver medal in the 50-metre breaststroke.^[12]

At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, França again won the silver medal, recording a mark of 26.76 seconds, which became the new Americas record. The gold went to South African Cameron van der Burgh, who became the new world record holder with a time of 26.67 seconds.^[13]

2010

At the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, França won gold in the 50-metre breaststroke.^[14]

In December, at the 2010 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Dubai, he again won gold in the 50-metre breaststroke, beating the world record holder Cameron van der Burgh with a time of 25.95 seconds, setting a new championship record. He also captured the bronze in the 100-metre breaststroke with a time of 57.39 seconds.^[15] Together with César Cielo, Guilherme Guido and Kaio Almeida, França set a new South American record in the 4×100-metre medley with a combined time of 3:23.12, which was also good enough for the bronze medal.^[16]

2011

In July 2011, during the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai, França won the gold medal in the 50-metre breaststroke, again beating the world record holder, Cameron van der Burgh, with a time of 27.01 seconds.^[17]

At the 2011 Pan American Games, he won gold in the 100-metre breaststroke^[18] and in the 4×100-metre medley^[19]

2012

In April 2012, participating in the Maria Lenk Trophy in Rio de Janeiro, França recorded a time of 59.63 in the early heats. This assured him of a place on the Brazilian team at the London 2012 Olympics.^[20] In the 50-metre breaststroke, he recorded the fastest time in the world in 2012, with a 26.87 seconds showing, just a tenth of a second off his career best.^[21]

The Brazilian team had high hopes for França to medal in the 100-metre breaststroke at the 2012 Summer Olympics, but he was unable to get his time under the 1 minute mark and ultimately finished in 12th place.^[22] His rival, Cameron Van der Burgh, won the Olympic gold and broke the world record in the 100-metre breaststroke.^[23] França also participated in the 4×100-metre medley, finishing in 15th place.^[24]

2014

At the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, he won a silver medal in the 100-metre breaststroke. He also finished 4th in the 4x100-metre medley relay, along with Guilherme Guido, Thiago Pereira and Marcelo Chierighini, and obtained a 13th place in the 200-metre breaststroke heats, didn't swimming the B final.^[25]

On September 4, 2014, participating in the José Finkel Trophy (short course competition) in Guaratinguetá, he broke the Americas record in the 100-metre breaststroke with a time of 56.25.^[26]

At the 2014 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Doha, Qatar, França won five gold medals, into the best Brazilian participation of all time, where the country won the competition for the first time. At 4 December, in the Men's 4 × 50 metre medley relay, formed by França, César Cielo, Nicholas Santos and Guilherme Guido, considered the "Dream Team" by Cielo (formed only by medalists or world champions in their respective individual events), Brazil won the gold shattering the world record with a time of 1:30.51.^[27] At the same day, he also won the gold medal in the Men's 100 metre breaststroke, with a time of 56.29, Championship record;^[28] and in the 4 × 50 metre mixed medley relay, along with Nicholas Santos, Etiene Medeiros and Larissa Oliveira, breaking the South American record with a time of 1:37.26, only 0.09 seconds from beating USA's world record (1:37.17).^[29] At 7 December, França won more two gold medals: in the Men's 50 metre breaststroke, with a time of 25.63 (Americas and Championship record),^[30] and in the Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay, with a time of 3:21.14, South American record.^[31] The 5 gold medals made França the largest single winner of the World Championship in Doha.^[32]

 

França in Kazan 2015.

2015

At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, França won the gold medal in the 4×100-metre medley relay, where he broke the Pan American Games record with a time of 3:32.68, along with Marcelo Chierighini, Guilherme Guido and Arthur Mendes.^[33][34] Before, he had already won a gold medal in the 100-metre breaststroke, where he broke the Pan American Games record with a time of 59.21.^[35][36]

At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, França qualified with a time of 59.56 in the Men's 100 metre breaststroke heats.^[37] In the semifinal, França excessively forced the race and ended up losing speed, making a worse time (59.89) and finished only in 11th place.^[38] In the Men's 50 metre breaststroke, he qualified for the final in 4th position with a time of 26.87, his best time since 2012.^[39][40][41] In the final, curiously he finished in 4th place, repeating the semifinal time.^[42] He also finished 38th in the Men's 200 metre breaststroke^[43][44]

2016

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he broke the South American record at Men's 100 metre breaststroke heats, with a time of 59.01.^[45] He went to the final, finishing 7th place.^[46] He also participated in the Brazilian 4 × 100 metre medley relay heats.^[47][48]

At the 2016 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, he went to the Men's 100 metre breaststroke final, finishing 4th,^[49] and to the Men's 50 metre breaststroke final, finishing 5th.^[50] He also finished 18th in the Men's 200 metre breaststroke.^[51]

Records

França is the current holder of the following records:^[52]

Race	Time	Date	Record	Pool
50 m breaststroke^[53]^[54]	26.76	July 29, 2009	Americas	Long Course
50 m breaststroke	25.63	December 7, 2014	Americas	Short Course
100 m breaststroke^[55]	56.25	September 4, 2014	Americas	Short Course
4x50 m medley	1:30.51	December 4, 2014	World	Short Course
4 × 100 m medley	3:21.14	December 7, 2014	South American	Short Course
4x50 m mixed medley	1:37.26	December 4, 2014	South American	Short Course

Felipe França Silva is also a former holder of the following records:

Race	Time	Date	Record	Pool
50 m breaststroke^[56]	26.89	May 8, 2009	World	Long Course

References

1. . Sports Reference. 2012. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
2. "Felipe França History". Felipe França-Official Site (in Portuguese). 2013. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
3. "Results of the 4×100-metre medley relay at 2008 Manchester". OmegaTiming. April 13, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
4. "Results of the 100-metre breaststroke at 2008 Manchester". OmegaTiming. April 9, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
5. "Results of the 50-metre breaststroke at 2008 Manchester". OmegaTiming. April 12, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
6. "Rain of Olympic index, and more than fierce fight for places in the 100-metre breaststroke". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). May 10, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
7. "In thrilling finale, Henrique Barbosa and Felipe França are guaranteed in Beijing". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). May 11, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
8. "Felipe França stay on heats at 100-metre breaststroke". UOL (in Portuguese). July 27, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
9. . Sports Reference. 2012. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
10. "Felipe França beats the 50-metre breaststroke world record at Maria Lenk Trophy". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). May 8, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
11. Eliana Alves / Souza Santos (May 8, 2009). (in Portuguese). CBDA. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
12. "Universiade Results". Swim Rankings. 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
13. "Felipe França gets silver on 50-metre breaststroke and collapses in tears on the podium". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). July 29, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
14. . Globoesporte (in Portuguese). August 21, 2010. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
15. . CBDA (in Portuguese). December 16, 2010. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
16. "Brazilian Quartet is bronze". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). December 19, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
17. "Felipe França is the world champion in the 50-metre breaststroke in Shanghai". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). July 27, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
18. "Felipe França commands double at 100-metre breaststroke in Guadalajara". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). October 16, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
19. "Brazil team is gold in 4×100-metre medley in Guadalajara". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). October 21, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
20. "Owners of the index advance to final". Sportv (in Portuguese). April 26, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
21. "Felipe won the 50-metre breaststroke and shows confidence in London". Sportv. April 27, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013. (in Portuguese)
22. . Sports Reference. 2012. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
23. "South African breaks record and takes gold in the 100-metre breaststroke". Terra (in Portuguese). July 29, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
24. . Sports Reference. 2012. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
25. "Fratus won gold in the 50m freestyle with the Pan-Pacific record". CBDA (in Portuguese). August 24, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
26. "Felipe França and Etiene broke South American records, França does best time of the world in 2014". CBDA (in Portuguese). September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
27. "Results of the 4x50-metre medley at 2014 Doha". OmegaTiming. December 4, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
28. "Results of the 50-metre breaststroke at 2014 Doha". OmegaTiming. December 4, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
29. "Results of the 4x50-metre mixed medley at 2014 Doha". OmegaTiming. December 4, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
30. "Results of the 50-metre breaststroke at 2014 Doha". OmegaTiming. December 7, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
31. "Results of the 4x100-metre medley at 2014 Doha". OmegaTiming. December 7, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
32. "Doha gives to Brazil the short pool crown". CBDA. December 7, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
33. "Without Thiago Pereira, Brazilian relay closes swimming with gold". O Estado de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
34. "Gold Weight: Yane dominates pentathlon, and swimmers win "by stroke"". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). July 19, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
35. "Etiene Medeiros is the first Brazilian woman swimming champion at Pan American Games". ClicRBS (in Portuguese). July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
36. . Best Swimming (in Portuguese). July 18, 2015. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
37. "Results of the 100-metre breaststroke heats at 2015 Kazan". OmegaTiming. August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
38. "Results of the 100-metre breaststroke semifinals at 2015 Kazan". OmegaTiming. August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
39. "Results of the 50-metre breaststroke semifinals at 2015 Kazan". OmegaTiming. August 4, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
40. "France does best mark since 2012 and go to the 50m breast final in Kazan". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). August 4, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
41. . Best Swimming (in Portuguese). August 4, 2015. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
42. . Best Swimming (in Portuguese). August 5, 2015. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
43. "Results of the 200-metre breaststroke at 2015 Kazan". OmegaTiming. August 6, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
44. . Best Swimming (in Portuguese). August 6, 2015. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
45. "France beats continental record of seven years". CBDA (in Portuguese). August 6, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
46. "Medal eludes the Brazilians, and Felipe Franca changes focus: "I want twins"". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). August 7, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
47. "Etienne advances to semi 50 m; 4x100m medley male in final". BOL (in Portuguese). August 12, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
48. "Brazil ends at 6º in the 4x100m medley and ends Rio-16 without medal in swimming". UOL (in Portuguese). August 13, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
49. "Results of the 100-metre breaststroke at 2016 Windsor". OmegaTiming. December 7, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
50. "Results of the 50-metre breaststroke at 2016 Windsor". OmegaTiming. December 11, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
51. "Results of the 200-metre breaststroke at 2016 Windsor". OmegaTiming. December 8, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
52. . CBDA (in Portuguese). 2013. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
53. "Continental records" (PDF). USA Swimming. August 19, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
54. "Felipe França takes the silver medal in the 50m breaststroke and collapses in tears on the podium". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). July 29, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
55. "Felipe França and Etiene broke South American records, França does best time of the world in 2014". CBDA (in Portuguese). September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
56. "Felipe France beats the world record in the 50m breaststroke at Maria Lenk Trophy". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). May 8, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2013.

Records
Preceded by Cameron van der Burgh	Men's 50 metre breaststroke world record holder (long course) 8 May 2009 – 28 July 2009	Succeeded by Cameron van der Burgh