Record-Breaking Troféu José Finkel Sets the Stage for Short Course Worlds as Gui Caribe Stars
The Brazilian Championships, known as the Troféu José Finkel, held from August 31 to September 4, kicked off the global race for World Short Course Championships spots, as nations are in the process of selecting their teams for the global meet in Beijing later this year. The short-course meet produced an impressive 10 records across national and continental levels – five South American, two Colombian, one Brazilian, one Venezuelan, and one Spanish – setting the bar high for the selection meets still to come.
Giulia Carvalho was one of the biggest standouts of the meet, breaking two South American records in the 100-meter and 50 butterfly. Her 50 butterfly record was particularly impressive, as she lowered her own mark of 25.18, set earlier this year at the Campeonato Mineiro de Inverno, to 25.15 at the Finkel. The result capped a strong return to Brazil for Carvalho, who completed her collegiate career at the University of Miami in 2025. Her record in the 100 butterfly was 56.06.
Emerging as one of the breakout swimmers of the Finkel, Pedro Henrique Buch Souza won his first two Brazilian senior titles in the 100 and 200 butterfly. He also delivered one of the most impressive swims of the meet in the 200m backstroke, clocking 1:50.97 to set a Brazilian record, the only Brazilian mark broken at the competition. Buch also secured three qualifying times for the World Short Course Championships, in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke, making him one of the young Brazilian swimmers to watch heading into the World Championships in December.
Gui Caribe was arguably the most dominant sprinter of the meet, winning all three of his individual events and setting championship records in each. He clocked 20.54 in the 50 freestyle, finishing just .03 off César Cielo’s South American record. He added a 45.61 in the 100 freestyle, .04 off the South American mark, and went 21.86 in the 50 butterfly, only .11 behind Nicholas Santos‘ longstanding record.
Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez, who was the silver medalist in the 200 individual medley at the European Championships, set a Spanish record of 51.46 in the 100 individual medley.
With a breakout performance of his own, Leonardo Alcântara impressed with two South American records in the 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle. The University of Alabama senior opened the meet with a 3:37.46 in the 400 before closing the competition with another South American record, winning the 800 in 7:37.47. His performances not only secured his place on Brazil’s World Championships roster, but also established him as one of the country’s rising distance stars.
According to the selection criteria announced by the Brazilian Swimming Federation (CBDA), although 19 athletes met the qualifying standards for the World Short Course Championships, Brazil will send a team of 15 to compete in China.
Records Broken
South American Records
- Men’s 400m Freestyle: Leonardo Barbieri Alcântara — 3:37.46
- Women’s 100m Butterfly: Giulia Carvalho — 56.06
- Women’s 200m Freestyle: Mafê Costa — 1:53.65
- Women’s 50m Butterfly: Giulia Carvalho — 25.15
- Men’s 800m Freestyle: Leonardo Barbieri Alcântara — 7:37.47
Brazilian Record
- Men’s 200m Backstroke: Pedro Henrique Buch — 1:50.97
Colombian Records
- Men’s 200m Breaststroke: Juan José Giraldo — 2:08.50 (prelims); 2:07.91 (final)
- Men’s 400m Freestyle: Juan Manuel Morales — 3:42.76
Venezuelan Record
- Women’s 100m Breaststroke: Mercedes Salazar — 1:06.85
Spanish Record
- Men’s 100m Individual Medley: Hugo González — 51.46
Brazilian World Championships (25m) Roster:
- Guilherme Caribe (Tennessee Graduate)
- Leonardo Alcântra (Alabama)
- Caio Pumputis (Georgia Tech Graduate)
- Maria Fernanda Costa
- Pedro Henrique Buch
- Giulia Carvalho (Miami Graduate)
- Eduardo Moraes (Cal)
- Kaique Kauã Alves (Alabama Graduate)
- Pedro Sansone (Tennessee)
- Letícia Romão (Louisville)
- Beatriz Dizotti
- Murilo Sartori (Louisville Graduate)
- Leonardo Santos
- Stephan Steverink (Kentucky)
- Guilherme Kanzler