Brazil’s Olympic gold medallist Cesar Cielo has confirmed he is heading to Dubai for the 10th FINA World Shortcourse Swimming Championships in December.
The sprinter, who collected his gold in the 50m freestyle in Beijing, is set to compete over that distance, as well as in the 100m freestyle and in the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Cielo already has two gold medals in the 50m version of the FINA World Swimming Championships, in the 50m and 100m freestyle, and his appearance sets up the prospect of a head-to-head battle with Nathan Adrian of the US.
Adrian beat Cielo to gold in the 50m freestyle in August’s Pan-Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, and the American also took gold in the 100m freestyle, a race in which Cielo collected bronze.
Adrian is the reigning world champion in the 100m freestyle over the short course after winning gold in Manchester two years ago and he also struck gold as part of the 4x100m freestyle team in that same Championships.
“To have an Olympic gold medallist such as Cesar Cielo confirm his appearance at the Championships is wonderful news and underlines what a superb event this will be,” said Obaid Al Shamsi, the Championships Director.
“We have a beautiful new, state-of-the-art venue and with athletes like Cesar and Nathan Adrian up against each other, spectators will be able to see racing of the highest class.”
Cielo’s appearance and a likely meeting with Adrian adds yet more star power at the FINA World Swimming Championships from December 15 to 19.
Already confirmed as attending are Australia’s multiple Olympic medallists Geoff Huegill, Leisel Jones and Felicity Galvez, as well as Emily Seebohm, one of the stars of its Commonwealth Games team from New Delhi.
As well as Adrian, the USA team features 19 other Olympians and includes Ryan Lochte, Natalie Coughlin, Aaron Peirsol and Rebecca Soni.
With entries from national swimming federations remaining open until after the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Eindhoven which end on November 28, it is certain that plenty more big names will be announced as Dubai 2010 draws closer.
It is already likely the number of athletes competing will exceed the previous record mark of 623 set in Manchester two years ago.
Tickets for the Championships are on sale and can be purchased at www.boxofficeme.com or via the official Championships website: https://www.dubaiswimming2010.ae.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
