Rodrigues’ stroke of genius
TRIPLE GOLD SUCCESS FOR TN STUDENT SWIMMING
NORTHUMBRIA University is going Brazil nuts after one of Sport Central’s star swimmers cracked the IPC World Championships in style.
Phelipe Rodrigues claimed a hattrick of gold medals in Mexico adding a silver and a bronze to his five-medal haul.
The Brazillian flier is looking forward to a landmark year in Northumbria colours after rejoining the university last summer.
The university’s head of aquatics Louise Graham said: “Phelipe spent his final week of preparation with us at Northumbria before travelling out to Mexico and he was a great shape ahead of the competition.
“His results are thoroughly deserved and after years of striving to become world champion he has finally been rewarded for his efforts.
“We are all extremely proud of his success.
“Phelipe is a fantastic role model for his team-mates here at Northumbria and is a valued member of our team.”
Rodrigues racked up the titles as he blitzed the opposition across the board at the biggest disability swim event outside the Paralympics.
The sprinter bagged gold in the S10 50m freestyle - pipping fellow countryman Andre Brasil by two tenths of a second.
Rodrigues went on to claim first place in the 34 point 4x100m freestyle relay.
The in-form South American clinched his third gold of the World Championships as a member of the men’s 34 point 4x100m medley relay team.
However, the Northumbria student was not finished there.
Rodrigues clinched silver behind Brasil in the S10 100m freestyle and picked up bronze in the S10 100m butterfly.”