RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, May 8. THE Maria Lenk Trophy meet saw its first world record, with a prelim swim by Felipe France in the men's 50 breaststroke.
France, representing Pinheiros Swim Club, swam a 26.89 to dip .17 seconds off Cameron van der Burgh's record of 27.06 form the semifinals of the South African nationals on April 18.
Not only is France's swim the first under 27 seconds, but it is the first world record for Brazil in 27 years. The last Brazilian to hold a world record was Ricardo Prado, who swam a 4:19.78 to win the world championship title in 1982.
Swimming second in prelims was Joao Luiz Junior, who came close to breaking the record himself with a 27.14. Henrique Barbosa, the man who scared Kosuke Kitajima's world record in the 200 breast, qualified third with a 27.20.