Introduction
Bruno Giuseppe Fratus (born June 30, 1989) is a Brazilian competitive swimmer who placed fourth in 50-metre freestyle at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He is a bronze medalist in the 50-metre freestyle at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships and gold medalist at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships.
International career
2010–12
At the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, United States, Fratus made his first major involvement in an international tournament, finishing 4th in 50-metre freestyle, with a time of 21.93 seconds. He also finished 25th in the 100-metre freestyle.
In the 2011 World Aquatics Championships held in Shanghai, China, Fratus made the fastest time in the semifinals of the 50-metre freestyle: 21.76 seconds. He finished 5th in the final, with a time of 21.96 seconds. At the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Fratus won three medals: the gold medal in the 4×100-metre freestyle and medley relays, and the silver medal in the 50-metre freestyle.
In April 2012, disputing the Maria Lenk Trophy in Rio de Janeiro, Fratus earned the mark of 21.70 seconds in 50-metre freestyle.
2012 Summer Olympics
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Fratus reached the final of the 50-metre freestyle, earning 4th place with 21.61 seconds, just .02 seconds behind César Cielo, who won the bronze medal with 21.59 seconds.
2013–16
In May 2013, Fratus underwent surgery to resolve an injury in his right shoulder, which had lasted two years.
Fratus won a gold medal at the 2014 South American Games. In the men's 50 metre freestyle, he broke the competition record with a time of 22.12 in the heats. At the 2014 Maria Lenk Trophy, in São Paulo, he won a silver medal in the 50-metre freestyle with a time of 21.45, losing only to Cielo, who won with a time of 21.39.
At the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, Fratus won a bronze medal in the Brazilian 4×100-metre freestyle relay, along with João de Lucca, Marcelo Chierighini and Nicolas Oliveira. The next day, he won the gold medal in the 50-metre freestyle, defeating Olympic champions Anthony Ervin and Nathan Adrian, breaking the Championship record, and beating his personal record with a time of 21.44.
In December 2014, at the Brazilian Open, in Rio de Janeiro, he swam lifetime best in the 100-metre freestyle, with a time of 48.57, and in the 50-metre freestyle, with a time of 21.41.
In April 2015, he competed the Brazilian Long course Championship (Maria Lenk Trophy) for Esporte Clube Pinheiros. He had a time of 21.74 in the qualifying of the 50 metre freestyle, being by then the second best mark in the 2015 world ranking. He won the 50-metre freestyle final, beating César Cielo with the same time as the qualifying.
In July Fratus competed in the Pan American Games, in Toronto. He won the gold medal in the 4×100-metre freestyle relay, together with Matheus Santana, João de Lucca and Marcelo Chierighini. The team established a new Pan American Games record with a time of 3:13.66. Fratus also won the silver medal in the 50-metre freestyle.
At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Fratus earned his first medal in World Championships in the Men's 50 metre freestyle, where he won the bronze, with a time of 21.55. He also finished 4th in the Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay, along with Marcelo Chierighini, Matheus Santana and João de Lucca. César Cielo did not swim the final - despite being participating in the championship, he was feeling shoulder pain on this day; and 6th in the 4 × 100 metre mixed freestyle relay, along with Matheus Santana, Larissa Oliveira and Daynara de Paula, breaking the South American record with a time of 3:25.58.
At the Open tournament held in Palhoça, Fratus broke his personal record in the 50-metre freestyle, with a time of 21.37.
2016 Summer Olympics
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Fratus arrived as one of the favorites to win a medal in the Men's 50 metre freestyle. He qualified for the final, but here, only finished in 6th place with a time of 21.79. In an interview, he said: "For some reason, I'm not able to swim faster than that. I have no idea what is happening. This year has been very bad. I have to review the program". Before the Games, Fratus was suffering from chronic back pain, and the Brazilian Aquatic Sports Confederation (CBDA) even sent a physiotherapist to the United States, where Fratus lives and trains to accompany the athlete.