Brazil recognizes Maria Lenk as the patron saint of Brazilian swimming

Swimmer was the first Brazilian to break a world record

Brazilian swimming has, since today (20), your patroness: Mary Lenk, the first Brazilian swimmer to set a world record. the homage, the only Brazilian to integrate thehallyes fame yes swimming in Florida, was made by means of an act of the Legislature, who approved theLei 14.418, sanctioned and published inOfficial Diary of the Union this thursday.

Maria Lenk's first strokes were given with the help of her father, the German Lui Paul Lenk, to the 10 years old, on the Tiete River, to strengthen her lungs after she survived double lung disease.

Swimming for Flamengo, Maria Lenk gave the club several titles. Played a relevant role in the popularization of butterfly swimming in the country, having been the first woman to compete in this modality during the Olympic Games in 1936, in berlin, in Germany.

The Angels

Born in São Paulo, em 15 of january 1915, Maria Lenk participated in her first Olympic Games at 17 Years, Los Angeles Olympics, em 1932. She was the only woman among the 82 delegation athletes; and the first South American to compete in an Olympic competition.

Inexperienced, had a timid participation, ranking 20th in the 100 m book; in 11th us 200 m chest; and having been disqualified in the 100m backstroke.

Upon returning from the Olympics, stood out by winning four editions of the Travessia de São Paulo a Nado race, in a journey of little more than 5 kilometers between Vila Maria Bridge and Espéria Club.

berlin games

Em 1936, at the Berlin Olympics, to the 21 Years, she was no longer the only woman in the Brazilian delegation. His participation was hampered due to shoulder problems, acquired in the midst of heavy training to compensate for the lack of training during the ship trip to Germany. He ended up with a simple 13th place in the 200m breaststroke.

“In the competition held in Nazi Germany, Maria Lenk's pioneering spirit manifested itself again. The Brazilian innovated by recovering her arm in breaststroke out of the water, as did the American Hebert Higgins.

Butterfly swimming was born there, that would only be made official as an Olympic style by the International Swimming Federation (FINA), em 1956”, details the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), in the swimmer's biography.

Great achievements

It was in the year of 1939 that Maria Lenk recorded her great deeds, by breaking the world record of 400 m chest with a time of 6m16s during a competition at Clube de Regatas Botafogo; and by also breaking the world record for the 200m breaststroke, with a time of 2m56s, mark that surpassed the male record of the race, which was 2m59s, becoming “the first Brazilian athlete to set a world record”, reports the COB.

After some breaks from sport, the swimmer broke other records again, when already competing among the masters. No total, they were 40 world records in this modality.

Hall and battle

Em 1988, Maria Lenk became the first athlete from Brazil to enterSwimming Hall of Fame, of the International Swimming Federation (Fina), when she was honored with the Top Ten of the maximum entity of the sport, being considered one of the top ten master swimmers in the world.

Em 2002, she received, from the hands of Juan Antonio Samaranche, the Olympic necklace. Therefore, became the first Brazilian to be awarded the highest honor by the International Olympic Committee (COI).

“said goodbye, swimming”

Until the end of her life she kept the habit of swimming 1.500 meters every day, reason I could have good health despite osteoporosis.

"In day 16 april 2007, she left home in the morning, walked to the club and took a dip in the Flamengo pool, not knowing that it would be his last training. while swimming, your aorta artery has ruptured due to an aneurysm, causing massive bleeding into the mediastinum. In the blue silence of the pool water, Maria Lenk said goodbye, swimming”, describes COB in an account of his death, to the 92 Years.

Source: Brazil Agency.

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