Gustavo Borges
Encyclopedia
Gustavo França BorgesGustavo França Borges (born December 2, 1972 in Ribeirão Preto
is a former international top swimmer from Brazil
. He participated in four Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1992. He, along with sailor Robert Scheidt
, are in second place as the Brazilian athletes with most medals, behind only sailor Torben Grael
with four (one in 1992, two in 1996 and one in 2000), and also the second Brazilian with most Pan-American Games gold medals with eight (behind table tennis player Hugo Hoyama
).
His first medal was silver in the 100 metres freestyle at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
, which took a while to be received as his lane's chronometer
was not working, and the judges had to see the TV recordings to guarantee his medal. Borges even overcame his idol Matt Biondi
to win the silver medal.
6 ft 7 ½ inch Borges currently lives in São Paulo
. He has lived in Jacksonville and was a student at the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor, under the guidance of swimming coach Jon Urbanchek
, who also coached the likes of American Eric Namesnik
and Dutchman Marcel Wouda
in the mid-1990s. Borges carried the flag for the Brazilian squad during the closing ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
.
Ribeirão Preto
Ribeirão Preto is a municipality and city in the Northeastern region of the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is nicknamed Brazilian California, because of a combination of an economy based on agrobusiness plus high technology, wealth and sunny weather all year long. With 605,114 inhabitants,...
is a former international top swimmer from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. He participated in four Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1992. He, along with sailor Robert Scheidt
Robert Scheidt
Robert Scheidt is a renowned Brazilian sailor, having won two gold medals and two silver medals from four Olympic Games...
, are in second place as the Brazilian athletes with most medals, behind only sailor Torben Grael
Torben Grael
Torben Schmidt Grael is one of the most well known Brazilian sailors, renowned in international competitions. A descendant of Danes, he was taken sailing by his grandfather at five years old on the sailboat Aileen, of the extinct 6 meter class, which was the boat used by the silver medal winning...
with four (one in 1992, two in 1996 and one in 2000), and also the second Brazilian with most Pan-American Games gold medals with eight (behind table tennis player Hugo Hoyama
Hugo Hoyama
Hugo Hoyama is a table tennis player from Brazil, he won several medals in single, double, and team events in the Latin American Table Tennis Championships....
).
His first medal was silver in the 100 metres freestyle at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, which took a while to be received as his lane's chronometer
Chronograph
A chronograph is a timepiece or watch with both timekeeping and stopwatch functions as well as other functions. Pocket watch chronographs were produced as early as the 18th century but did not become popular until the 1820s...
was not working, and the judges had to see the TV recordings to guarantee his medal. Borges even overcame his idol Matt Biondi
Matt Biondi
Matthew Nicholas Biondi is a three-time U.S. Olympic swimmer in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Summer Olympics, winning a total of 11 medals...
to win the silver medal.
6 ft 7 ½ inch Borges currently lives in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
. He has lived in Jacksonville and was a student at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor, under the guidance of swimming coach Jon Urbanchek
Jon Urbanchek
Jon Urbanchek is an American swimming coach, best known for his 22-year tenure as the Men's Swimming & Diving Head Coach for the University of Michigan...
, who also coached the likes of American Eric Namesnik
Eric Namesnik
Eric John Namesnik was an Olympic swimmer for the United States.-Biography:He was born and raised in the town of Butler, Pennsylvania. Namesnik won silver medals in the 400-meter individual medley at both the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1996 Summer Olympics...
and Dutchman Marcel Wouda
Marcel Wouda
Marcel Reinier Wouda is a former Dutch swimmer, who became Holland's first world champion when he won the world title in the 200 m individual medley at the FINA 1998 World Aquatics Championships in Perth, Australia...
in the mid-1990s. Borges carried the flag for the Brazilian squad during the closing ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.