Gustavo Borges, Brazil's most decorated swimmer in history, announced his retirement from competitive swimming this week. Borges is perhaps Brazil's most popular Olympic athlete, revered so highly that his wedding to Spanish swimmer Barbara Franco was covered for television.

Not since Ricardo Prado had Brazil seen such an internationally dominant swimmer. Borges secured medals at every short and long course world championship from 1993-1997, and was twice world champion in the short course 200m freestyle.

After Barcelona, Borges joined the University of Michigan, racking up 10 NCAA championship titles during the course of his collegiate career from 1992-1995. Borges remains to this day the only male swimmer in NCAA history to win the 100 yard freestyle for four consecutive years.

With Borges as the inspiration, a new crop of talented youngsters are swimming forth to carry the torch. Already looking very much the heir apparent, teenager Thiago Pereira won the 200 IM at the World Short Course Championships in Indianapolis, and swimmers Joanna Maranhao and Gabriel Mangabeira made Olympic finals this summer in Athens.

It's clear that the road has been paved for these new talents to take the helm, but they're all humble enough to understand exactly how big his shoes are to fill. Gustavo is excited to enter this new phase in his life, but admits that he won't be able to stay away from the water, and intends to swim for fitness and weight maintenance four times a week.