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Silva Says A Prayer For 25.95sec Of Fame

Dec 19, 2010  - Craig Lord

Dubai, world s/c championships, day 5 finals:

Men's 50m breaststroke

Felipe Silva (BRA) received a standing ovation, not so much for his 25.95 victory but for kneeling in prayer while his national anthem rang out after he had delivered Brazil's second gold medal of the evening in a triumph of strength. The silver went to Cameron Van Der Burgh (RSA) in  26.03, the bronze to Aleksander Hetland (NOR) in 26.29.  

Silva, the first man in a textile suit to race inside 26sec, packed a punch in the water and then gave the air a right hook and pointed to his Brazil cap as he leapt on the lane rope. He then sank below the waterline, his hands clasped in prayer, his dream come true, his name up in lights, a championship record registered against his name.

The result:

  • Silva 25.95 CR
  • Van Der Burgh 26.03
  • Hetland 26.29 
  • Roland Schoeman (RSA) 26.41
  • Mike Alexandrov (USA) 26.44
  • Robin Van Aggele (NED) 26.50
  • Aleksandr Triznov (RUS) 26.71
  • Fabio Scozzoli (ITA) DSQ

"It's an honour to break the championship record and to be first," said Silva. "I have a fever and I'm not feeling very well so I was a little confused after the race but I'm very pleased with performance."

History in the making:

World s/c Podiums

  • 2010: 25.95l 26.03; 26.29
  • 2008: 26.46; 26.54; 26.67
  • 2006: 26.39; 26.60; 27.17

Most world titles in this event: 3

  • Oleg Lisogor (UKR) 2002, 06, 08

Records (TB = best ever in a textile suit)

  • WR: 25.25 Cameron Van Der Burgh (RSA) 15.11.09
  • TB:  26.09 Roland Schoeman (RSA) 30.10.10

Most world records in this event (since specific 25m records began in 1991):  6 

  • Mark Warneke (GER) 1995-2002

All-time textile rankings top 5:

  • 25.95 Silva Dubai 2010
  • 26.03 Van Der Burgh Dubai 2010
  • 26.09 Schoeman 2010
  • 26.17 Lisogor 2006
  • 26.28 Moses 2002

From the archive: 

Only one swimmer has broken the dash world record six times: Mark Warneke (GER). He reigned on the clock between 1995 and 2002. collecting the world crown along the way in 2000. Ten years after he first entered the world-record books, he added a unique line to his list of achievements: in 2005, aged 35, he became the oldest world long-course champion in history when he claimed the 50m breaststroke crown in Montreal.