Leonardo Costa
Personal information
Full nameLeonardo Jorge Costa
Nationality Brazil
Born (1977-05-12) 12 May 1977
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight94 kg (207 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke, Freestyle
ClubTrojan Swim Club, Los Angeles
Medal record
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1999 Winnipeg 200 m Backstroke
Silver medal – second place 1999 Winnipeg 4×200 m Freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Winnipeg 200 m Freestyle

Leonardo Jorge Costa (born 12 May 1977 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais) is a former freestyle and backstroke swimmer from Brazil, who represented his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.[1] His biggest success was winning the gold medal in the 200-metre backstroke at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

He was at the 1997 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), where he finished 21st in the 200-metre backstroke, and 24th in the 100-metre backstroke.

Leonardo went to the 1999 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), in Hong Kong, where he reached the 200-metre backstroke final, finishing in 6th.[2]

At the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, he earned the gold medal in the 200-metre backstroke, silver in the 4×200-metre freestyle, and bronze in the 200-metre freestyle.[3] The time of the 200-metre backstroke was 1:59.33, South American record, Pan American record, and index for him to participate in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.[4][5] The silver in the 4×200-metre freestyle was obtained with a time of 7:22.92, South American record, along with Gustavo Borges, Rodrigo Castro and André Cordeiro.[6][7][8] He also finished 9th in the 100-metre backstroke.[9]

A historic feat achieved by Leonardo, in Winnipeg, was defeat Aaron Peirsol in the 200-metre backstroke final, that after this competition, won several Olympic medals and broke world records in the 100-metre backstroke, 200-metre backstroke and 4×100-metre medley.[10]

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Leonardo ranked 13th in the 4×200-metre freestyle, and 14th in the 200-metre backstroke.[1]

In 2000, Costa broke the short-course South American record in the 200-metre backstroke, with a time of 1:54.79, during the NCAA Swimming Championships in Minneapolis, MN, competing for USC (University of Southern California) and finishing in 2nd place. This record was only beaten in 2005.[11]

Today, Leonardo Costa runs a community program called "+ Natação", in the city of João Pessoa, state of Paraíba (northeast of Brazil) teaching people from the community how to swim in the calm sea.

References

  1. 1 2 Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Leonardo Costa". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Results at 1999 Hong Kong" (PDF). USA Swimming. 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Brazil medals at 1999 Pan". UOL (in Portuguese). 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Brazilian revelation expecting record". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). 5 August 1999. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "Romero's Gold". CBDA (in Portuguese). 13 August 2003. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "History of Gustavo Borges". Gustavo Borges-Official Site (in Portuguese). 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "the Olympics of David". CBDA (in Portuguese). 17 August 2004. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "With 15 medals, seven gold, 1999 Winnipeg Pan was a mark in swimming". R7 (in Portuguese). 29 May 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  9. ↑ 1999 Full results by Swimnews
  10. ↑ "With 15 medals, seven gold, 1999 Winnipeg Pan was a mark in swimming". R7 (in Portuguese). 29 May 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Lucas Salatta makes index and breaks records". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). 9 September 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
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