PHOENIX, Arizona, November 24. THE Brazilians pulled it off last year by getting Thiago Pereira the Swimmers Choice World Male Swimmer of the Year award, and they look to be doing it again this year with a superior mobilization effort on behalf of Cesar Cielo.
Early on in the voting, Michael Phelps held a comfortable 80-90 percent of the voting. Now, Cielo is ahead 49.28 percent to 41.31 percent. With five more days to go, it is a two-man race as Ryan Lochte is third with 2.69 percent of the votes.
Stephanie Rice of Australia still holds a comfortable lead in the Swimmers Choice World Female Swimmer of the Year voting with 33.57 percent, but Dara Torres is gaining with 16.46 percent. Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry is third with 14.29 percent.
A winner will be announced for each award on Nov. 29. Make your vote count at www.SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.