Monday 17 October 2011

Cesar Cielo 47.84 100m Freestyle, 47.07 Relay Split (With Video)



Apparently 2011 still has more fast long course swimming to offer. At the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Cesar Cielo posted a smoking 47.84 in the 100m Freestyle. If the time looks familiar it is because Cielo equalled Pieter Van den Hoogenband's previous long standing world record (and former textile best time).

Cielo remains 0.35 seconds shy of James Magnussen's 47.49 relay lead-off leg from Shanghai, but his swim serves as a reminder that he will be a major force in London after a disappointing 4th place at the World Championships.

It seems like Magnussen's way of the racing the event (conserving energy on the first 50 and blowing past the competition on the 2nd 50m) has changed the way Cielo is swimming the race. In Shanghai Cielo went out in 22.63 and came back in 25.38. In Guadalajara he turned in 22.84 and came back in 25.00. It's a smart move from the Brazilian. Magnussen currently enjoys a mental edge over the competition, knowing that he can catch and pass the field. When you can see that you are catching and passing other swimmers it gives you a huge lift, a "second wind" if you like. Think of how many races you see seemingly unsurmountable leads overcome with a stunning last 50m split. If Cielo is able to limit the rate at which the Australian catches him, we're yet to see how it will affect Magnussen's sprint to the wall.

Cielo's relay split of 47.07 further highlights this new race pace. He turned in 22.54 (with the aid of a relay start this probably converts to a 23.0/23.1 from a flat start), before turning on the jets on the second 50m with a split of 24.53. If you watch the video below (starting at 7:25) you can clearly see Cielo increase his stroke rate and leg kick at 45m going into the wall, before going all-out on the second 50m. Reports coming out of Brazil are that Cielo is doing a lot more metres in his training than he did at Auburn. This seems to be paying off with his new found endurance on the second 50m of races.

17 comments:

  1. Surprisingly fast final.
    Nice swim by the cuban guy too

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  2. Cielo's reaction time in the relay was 0.36 (compared to his usual reaction of .6x), meaning he would've gone out in 22.84ish for an overall time of 47.37. I hope Magnussen doesn't overlook this swim, because Cielo is serious.

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  3. He was able to do a running relay takeover though so it is not quite like for like. The 24.53 on the way back is the split that's going to make Magnussen nervous.

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  4. And his start in individual event wasnt all that great.Even his RT:0.70

    I am a lot more impressed with his 24.53 coming home than his individual 100 free time.

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  5. There is a huge difference in racing (at home ) in an event where you are guaranteed to win . It is another thing to control the adrenline for pure sprinters down the first 50 in a highly charged race.

    "limit the rate at which Magnussen catchs him "???????

    "I hope Magnussen doesn't overlook this swim " -?????

    At this very moment James is practicing his front forward rugbyleague tackles. James plans to get to the 50 mt first & tackle Cielo head on in a brutal take down

    James's famous controlled racing temperament will ensure he doesn't drop poor Cielo on his head & get sent out of the pool.

    James will then swim on to victory -perfectly read to tackle anyone else at 85m.

    Apologies to Americans who will never understand & hello welsh !

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  6. '(at home) as in Sth America where everyone is against big bad USA -unless of course they want to get a college scholarship or (il)legal migration.

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  7. Pretty sure Mexico is in North America, but whatever... appreciate the (misguided) opinion.

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  8. Tom - What about Zorro? Surely he is not North American!

    I gotta re evaluate my whole life philosophy.

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  9. Whatever way you look at it he is big competition for Magnussen. The way Magnussen swims the race he will likely be behind Cielo,Adrian & co for much of the race and i could imagine with 25m to go the number 24.53 popping into his head and a few more nerves kicking in.....the reaching stroke trying to find the wall could come in....But it probably wont.

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  10. 47.49 still beats - quite handily, I add - 47.84.

    The back end of Ceilo's relay was impressive but go back and watch Magnussen's relay swim: He crushed that last 25 and he looked effortless doing it. He just picked up and moved away from the rest of the field. No discernible change in stroke rate or intensity. He held his speed as everyone else around him faded.

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  11. TedBaker.
    i agree with you, 47.49 is mind blowing, but you have to put in mind the altitude, what makes the athletes to get tired faster.
    What i saw at the end of his relay swimming is cielo kicking incredible fast(and strong) at the end, totally diferent than his dying at the worlds.

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  12. DDias.
    You are not quite correct regarding the altitude. For sprinters high altitude is a positive Hence why in Athletics sprints ran at altitude are marked as altitude runs and are 'degraded' whereas a 10000m at altitude is not marked as it is a negative effect for the runners as the thinner air makes it harder to breathe and recover and therefore their ability to run sustainably fast, it also effects individuals differently and may be a factor in Steenvoorden's awful time. Thinner air means less air resistance for sprinters remember!!!

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  13. Jack,
    you are RIGHT about your explanation but WRONG about SPRINTER definition.
    Sprinter swimmers is totally different than Runners and jumpers.
    Anything over 20 seconds of maximum ratio/strenght will kill the athlete suplement of oxigen.Swimmers don t benefit(directly from air resistance) because the water is their enviroment.
    Over 200 meter dash, there is no great time gain in altitude, just lost of performance.

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  14. DDias,
    Did not realize that Guadalajara was that high. That is impressive.

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  15. The surprising thing is the innanity of the comments on here, saying that Magnusson should be afraid of Cielo. I thought Magnusson was the new kid on the block - so shouldn't it be Cielo to fear the NEW guy who beat the old guy? The comments are just dumb - Magnusson was NEW - he will get quicker - think about this comment please!

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  16. Anonymous,
    no one is trolling about Magnussen being afraid of Cielo.He is not, and even Cielo main goal is not 100 free.He will be happy with a Silver in 100 free.His main goal is to be Olympic 50 free champion three times.His 100 free is more to help break the ice for competition and 4x100 free dream of a bronze medal.

    But be warned:
    A friend of mine went to panpams and said the startblocks sucked big time, and told anyone lose around 0.2-0.3 tenths because the block was not firm and hard like Omega new blocks.I saw Subirats start block shaking live on tv...

    Magnussen times will drop(probably a lot, he is very young), but Cielo times will drop too.

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