Luis Nicolao
Encyclopedia
Luis Alberto Nicolao is a retired butterfly swimmer from Argentina
, who in 1962 twice broke the world record in the men's 100 metres butterfly (long course). He first did so on April 24, 1962 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he clocked 58.4. Three days later he raised the standard to 57.0. Five years after that performance US swimming ace Mark Spitz
broke Nicolao's top time.
Nicolao represented his native country in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1960
. Two years earlier in Cali, Colombia, when he was just fourteen years of age, he already became champion of South America in the men's 100m butterfly. Nicolao later went on to study in the United States, where his eldest son, Luis Nicolao junior, became a water polo
coach (currently at Princeton University
).
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, who in 1962 twice broke the world record in the men's 100 metres butterfly (long course). He first did so on April 24, 1962 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he clocked 58.4. Three days later he raised the standard to 57.0. Five years after that performance US swimming ace Mark Spitz
Mark Spitz
Mark Andrew Spitz is a retired American swimmer. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, an achievement only surpassed by Michael Phelps who won eight golds at the 2008 Olympics....
broke Nicolao's top time.
Nicolao represented his native country in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1960
Swimming at the 1960 Summer Olympics
At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, 15 swimming events were contested, eight for men and seven for women. There was a total of 380 participants from 45 countries competing. For the first time, the 4×100 metres medley relay was contested...
. Two years earlier in Cali, Colombia, when he was just fourteen years of age, he already became champion of South America in the men's 100m butterfly. Nicolao later went on to study in the United States, where his eldest son, Luis Nicolao junior, became a water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
coach (currently at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
).