Brazil eyes record Olympic swimming medal haul

Rio de Janeiro, July 14: Brazil will be aiming for its best ever Olympic swimming performance when competition in the pool gets underway at the Rio 2016 Games on August 6, according to the Brazilian Aquatic Sports Confederation (CBDA).

Despite lacking world-renowned stars, Brazil's swimming team could eclipse the six finals appearances achieved at the 2008 Games in Beijing, CBDA superintendent Ricardo de Moura said, reports Xinhua.

"Our objective is to have the best campaign ever by a Brazilian swimming team," Moura told the Globo newspaper.

Brazil will be represented by 33 swimmers during the August 5-21 Games.

Spearheading the hopes of the host nation is Joao Luiz Gomes junior, who set the third-fastest Olympic qualifying time for the men's 100m breaststroke by clocking 59.06 seconds.

Brazil will be without former Olympic 50m champion Cesar Cielo, who failed to qualify. Instead, the South American nation will pin its hopes in the event on Bruno Fratos and Italo Duarte.

The former qualified eight fastest with a time of 21.74 seconds while Duarte registered the 12th best time in the world with 21.82.