Luis Nicolao


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. Trained and coached by the winningest Argentinean coach "Profe" Alberto Carranza, Nicolao and Carranza traveled to Rio with great help from a long time Carranza's friend "Pepe" Caraballo and made possible the trip, when Nicolao went too fast in the first 50 meters for the first attempt Carranza knew that the return 50 was not going to be as fast as expected so even though the record was broken at 58'4 Carranza knew that Nico could go even faster if the first 50's were more measured so he went back to Pepe Caraballo and others to assist and support their stay in Rio for a couple more days in order to try a second time this resulting in a much better race and the record lowered to 57' flat. The first attempt on April 24, 1962 in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil salt water Guanabara pool, Nicolao 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.