Cesar Cielo, Stephanie Rice Earn Swimmers Choice Award

PHOENIX, Arizona, November 30. WITH a superior mobilization effort that could rival the "Get Out The Vote" machinery built by the Democrats and Republicans in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, Brazil's online community gave a homegrown talent the Swimming World Swimmers Choice Award for the second year in a row.

Last year, Thiago Pereira was the beneficiary of voting. This year, Cesar Cielo edged Michael Phelps, 46.15 to 43.54 percent for the Swimmers Choice Male honor. Ryan Lochte took a distant third with 2.87 percent.

Stephanie Rice had a much easier time of it in the Swimmers Choice Female voting with 30.72 percent of the vote. Dara Torres finished second with 18.72 percent, while Natalie Coughlin finished third with 13.67 percent, just beating Kirsty Coventry's 13.64 percent.

Tomorrow, Swimming World announces the World Swimmers of the Year!

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