Nicholas Santos

His first participation in the World Championships was in the 2001 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, where he finished 30th in the 50-metre freestyle.[https://archive.today/20130222055446/http://swimrankings.net/index.php?page=meetDetail&meetId=9645418&gender=1&styleId=1 FINA: 9th World Championships: Men, 50m Freestyle][https://web.archive.org/web/20041024105227/http://www.fina.org/fukuoka_SwimmingResultsDay1.html "9th FINA World Swimming Championships:Heats Results Sunday July 22 – Swimming Day 1"]

On 17 November, he broke the short-course South American record of the 50-metre butterfly, with a time of 23.82 seconds.{{cite web | title = Final Results | work = CBDA | date = 16 November 2001 | url = http://www.cbda.org.br/resultados/final-results-id-789 | access-date = 11 May 2013 | language = pt | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144904/http://www.cbda.org.br/resultados/final-results-id-789 | archive-date = 14 July 2014 }}

At the 2002 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Moscow, Nicholas finished 23rd in the 50-metre freestyle{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre freestyle at 2002 Moscow | work = OmegaTiming | date = 4 April 2002 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=0001020C0017000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01|access-date = 6 April 2013}} and 13th in the 50-metre butterfly.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2002 Moscow | work = OmegaTiming | date = 5 April 2002 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=0001020C0032000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 | access-date = 6 April 2013}}

He swam at the 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, where he finished 9th in the 50-metre freestyle.{{cite web | title = Bruno Bonfim closes as the 12th athlete with index | work = CBDA | date = 29 August 2002 | url = http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/bruno-bonfim-encerra-como-o-12o-atleta-com-indice-id-2235 | access-date = 19 April 2013 | language = pt | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130615214832/http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/bruno-bonfim-encerra-como-o-12o-atleta-com-indice-id-2235 | archive-date = 15 June 2013 }}

Participating in the 2003 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Nicholas finished 40th in the 50-metre butterfly.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2003 Barcelona | work = OmegaTiming | date = 20 July 2003 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000103050003000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01|access-date = 6 April 2013}}

On 10 September 2004, Santos broke the short-course South American record of the 50-metre freestyle with a time of 21.32 seconds, coming close to beat the World Record that belonged to Frédérick Bousquet with 21.10 seconds.{{cite web | title = South American record of Brazil will be approved by FINA | work = UOL | date = 15 September 2004 | url = http://esporte.uol.com.br/aquaticos/ultimas/2004/09/15/ult77u1129.jhtm|access-date = 28 July 2013|language=pt}}

At the 2004 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Indianapolis, Nicholas Santos won the silver medal in the 4 × 100-metre freestyle{{cite web | title = Results of the 4×100-metre freestyle at 2004 Indianapolis | work = OmegaTiming | date = 7 October 2004 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000104050012000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01|access-date = 6 April 2013}} and bronze in the 50-metre freestyle.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre freestyle at 2004 Indianapolis | work = OmegaTiming | date = 9 October 2004 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010405003B000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |access-date = 6 April 2013}} He also participated in the 50-metre butterfly, where he was disqualified,{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2004 Indianapolis | work = OmegaTiming | date = 9 October 2004 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010405002B000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01|access-date = 6 April 2013}} and the 100-metre freestyle, where he was in the finals, placing 8th.{{cite web | title = Results of the 100-metre freestyle at 2004 Indianapolis | work = OmegaTiming | date = 11 October 2004 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000104050058000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01|access-date = 6 April 2013}}

File:Cielo NicholasSantos Pan2007.jpg
at 2007 Pan American Games]]

At the 2005 Summer Universiade, Nicholas won a bronze medal in the 50-metre freestyle and in the 50-metre butterfly.{{cite web | title = Nicholas Santos is bronze at 50-metre freestyle | work = Globoesporte | date = 17 August 2005 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/Arquivo/0,,AA1016213-4272,00-NICHOLAS+SANTOS+E+BRONZE+NOS+M+LIVRE.html|access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}}

Santos swam at the 2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, where he finished 10th in the 50-metre freestyle.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre freestyle at 2006 Pan Pacific | work = OmegaTiming | date = 20 August 2006 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000106050039000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01|access-date = 20 April 2013}}

At the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, he became champion in 4 × 100-metre freestyle, with a new Pan-American record made by the Brazilian team: 3:15.90,{{cite web | title = 4×100-metre freestyle relay is gold | work = Globoesporte | date = 20 July 2007 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/PAN/Noticias/0,,MUL73796-4020,00.html | access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}} and was also a silver medalist in the 50-metre freestyle, with a time of 22.18 seconds.{{cite web | title = Party and golds close historical participation | work = Globoesporte| date = 22 July 2007 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/PAN/Noticias/0,,MUL74965-4020,00-FESTA+E+OUROS+FECHAM+PARTICIPACAO+HISTORICA.html|access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}}

Nicholas competed in the 2007 Summer Universiade, where he won a gold medal in the 50-metre freestyle and a silver medal in the 50-metre butterfly.{{cite web | title = Nicholas Santos is gold at Universiade | work = Globoesporte | date = 14 August 2007 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/0,,MUL87587-4271,00-NICHOLAS+DOS+SANTOS+E+OURO+NA+UNIVERSIADE.html|access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}} He broke the competition record in the 50-metre freestyle, with a time of 22.12 seconds.{{cite web | title=Swimming – Records broken by event | work = International Federation of University Sports (FISU)| date = 14 August 2007 | url = http://www.fisu.net/medias/fichiers/swim_records_by_event2.pdf |access-date = 6 April 2013}}

Nicholas participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 50-metre freestyle, where he reached the semi-finals, finishing in 16th position.{{cite web | title = Sports Reference Profile | work = Sports Reference | year = 2013 | url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/nicholas-santos-1.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418032205/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/nicholas-santos-1.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 18 April 2020 |access-date = 6 April 2013}}

In 10 May 2009, he broke the South American record in the 4 × 100-metre freestyle, with a time of 3:14.45, along with Nicolas Oliveira, César Cielo, and Fernando Silva.{{cite web | title = Elite troop, green and yellow | work = CBDA | date = 10 May 2009 | url = http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/tropa-de-elite-verde-e-amarela-id-10466 | access-date = 28 July 2013 | language = pt | archive-date = 4 September 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140904035009/http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/tropa-de-elite-verde-e-amarela-id-10466 | url-status = dead }}

At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, he qualified for the 50-metre butterfly finals, finishing in 5th place.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2009 Rome | work = OmegaTiming | date = 27 July 2009 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=0001090B001A000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 | access-date = 6 April 2013}} He also reached the semi-finals of the 50-metre freestyle, with a time of 21.69 seconds, and finished in 10th place.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre freestyle at 2009 Rome | work = OmegaTiming | date = 31 July 2009 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=0001090B004D000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 | access-date = 6 April 2013}} On 2 September 2009, at the end of the José Finkel Trophy, he won with a time of 21.55 seconds, surpassing his personal best.{{cite web | title = Nicholas wins with championship record | work = Globoesporte | date = 2 September 2009 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Esportes_Aquaticos/0,,MUL1289947-16315,00-ARAPIRACA+QUEBRA+O+RECORDE+SULAMERICANO+DOS+M+NO+TROFEU+JOSE+FINKEL.html| access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}}

In 4 September 2009, he broke the Americas record for the 50-metre butterfly, with a time of 22.87 seconds. This record was broken by César Cielo just three years later, with a time of 22.76 seconds.{{cite web | title = Emotion, records and more positions on top of the world rankings | work = CBDA | date = 27 April 2012 | url = http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/emocao-recordes-e-mais-posicoes-no-topo-do-ranking-mundial | access-date = 28 July 2013 | language = pt | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140506021545/http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/emocao-recordes-e-mais-posicoes-no-topo-do-ranking-mundial | archive-date = 6 May 2014 }}{{cite web | title = Continental records | work = USA Swimming | date = 19 August 2011 | url = http://www.usaswimming.org/_Rainbow/Documents/982c3023-3a41-46ec-9630-57f13dd30734/LCcontinentalrecordsDatedjuly19,2011%281%29.pdf | access-date = 28 July 2013 | archive-date = 5 April 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130405234621/http://www.usaswimming.org/_Rainbow/Documents/982c3023-3a41-46ec-9630-57f13dd30734/LCcontinentalrecordsDatedjuly19,2011(1).pdf | url-status = dead }}

In 15 November 2009, in short pool (25 m), he completed the 50-metre freestyle in 20.90 seconds and became the first South American to swim the distance under 21 seconds. He shared with César Cielo the short-course South American record in the 50-metre freestyle: 21.32 seconds. He established the time in 2004 and Cielo in 2008.{{cite web | title = Brazil has 22 of the 23 records of male continent | work = CBDA | date = 15 November 2009 | url = http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/brasil-tem-22-das-23-marcas-masculinas-do-continente-id-11066 | access-date = 6 April 2013 | language = pt | archive-date = 4 September 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140904034816/http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/brasil-tem-22-das-23-marcas-masculinas-do-continente-id-11066 | url-status = dead }}

He was champion of the 2009 FINA Swimming World Cup at the Singapore step in November 2009, beating the Olympic Champion Roland Schoeman in the finals of both the 50-metre butterfly and the 50-metre freestyle.{{cite web | title = Guido and Nicholas surprise and win in Singapore | work = Globoesporte | date = 21 November 2009 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Esportes_Aquaticos/0,,MUL1387288-16315,00-GUILHERME+GUIDO+E+NICHOLAS+DOS+SANTOS+SURPREENDEM+E+VENCEM+EM+CINGAPURA.html|access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}}{{cite web | title = Nicholas takes another gold, and closes the Brazil World Cup with 27 medals | work = Globoesporte | date = 22 November 2009 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Esportes_Aquaticos/0,,MUL1387907-16315,00-NICHOLAS+LEVA+MAIS+UM+OURO+E+BRASIL+FECHA+A+COPA+DO+MUNDO+COM+MEDALHAS.html|access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}} At this World Cup, he broke the South American record of the 50-metre butterfly with a time of 22.17 seconds in Berlin and 22.16 seconds in Singapore and the South American record of the 50-metre freestyle with a time of 20.74 seconds in Berlin.{{cite web| title = Two gold medals and a bronze in Singapore| work = CBDA| date = 21 November 2009| url = http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/duas-medalhas-de-ouro-e-uma-de-bronze-em-cingapura-id-11083| access-date = 28 July 2013| language = pt| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140904034907/http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/duas-medalhas-de-ouro-e-uma-de-bronze-em-cingapura-id-11083| archive-date = 4 September 2014}}

In August 2010, at the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California, United States, Nicholas earned the silver medal in 50-metre butterfly.{{cite web | title = With a new cap, Cielo bills gold, and pulls double in the 50-metre butterfly | work = Globoesporte | date = 18 August 2010 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/aquaticos/noticia/2010/08/cielo-fatura-o-ouro-e-lidera-dobradinha-com-nicholas-nos-50m-borboleta.html|access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}} He also finished 13th in the 50-metre freestyle.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre freestyle finals at 2010 Pan Pacific | work = OmegaTiming | date = 21 August 2010 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010A0B0046000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |access-date = 24 December 2013}}

In December 2010, at the 2010 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Dubai, Nicholas Santos, along with César Cielo, Marcelo Chierighini, and Nicolas Oliveira, won the bronze medal in the 4 × 100-metre freestyle with a time of 3:05.74, South American record, leaving behind the American team.{{cite web | title = Led by Cielo, Brazil's 4×100-metre freestyle is bronze in Dubai | work = Globoesporte | date = 15 December 2010 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/aquaticos/noticia/2010/12/liderado-por-cielo-4x100m-livre-do-brasil-e-bronze-no-mundial-de-dubai.html|access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}} Nicholas also got the 13th place in the 50-metre freestyle{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre freestyle at 2010 Dubai | work = OmegaTiming | date = 16 December 2010 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010A000022000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01|access-date = 6 April 2013}} and 4th place in the 50-metre butterfly.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2010 Dubai | work = OmegaTiming | date = 18 December 2010 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010A00004D000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01|access-date = 6 April 2013}}

At the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Nicholas won the gold medal in the 4 × 100-metre freestyle.{{cite web | title = With a new pan-american record, Brazil takes gold in 4×100-metre freestyle | work = Terra | date = 16 October 2011 | url = http://esportes.terra.com.br/esportes-aquaticos/com-novo-recorde-pan-americano-brasil-leva-ouro-no-4x100-m-livre,347852af913ba310VgnCLD200000bbcceb0aRCRD.html| access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}}

In April 2012, he improved his personal best in 50-metre butterfly to 22.79 seconds.

He participated in 2012 Summer Olympics in London, in the 4 × 100-metre freestyle, where he finished in 9th place.

In December 2012, already 32 years old, Nicholas Santos attended the 2012 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Istanbul and won the gold medal in the 50-metre butterfly with a time of 22.22 seconds, beating the Championship record.{{cite web | title = Nicholas Santos is champion in 50-metre butterfly at the World Swimming Championships | work = Globoesporte | date = 15 December 2012 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/aquaticos/noticia/2012/12/nicholas-santos-e-campeao-mundial-de-piscina-curta-nos-50m-borboleta.html| access-date = 6 April 2013|language=pt}}

At the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Santos qualified to the 50-metre butterfly finals in the first place, with a time of 22.81 seconds.{{cite web | title = Nicholas and Cielo rehearse a double, and go to the 50-metre butterfly final | publisher = SPORTV | date = 28 July 2013 | url = http://sportv.globo.com/site/eventos/mundial-de-esportes-aquaticos/noticia/2013/07/cielo-e-nicholas-voam-nas-semifinais-e-vao-final-dos-50m-borboleta.html| access-date = 28 July 2013|language=pt}} In the finals, his time worsened to 23.21 seconds, finishing in 4th place.{{cite web | title = Sovereign, Cielo takes 50-metre butterfly and conquer the world championship for the second time | publisher = SPORTV | date = 29 July 2013 | url = http://sportv.globo.com/site/eventos/mundial-de-esportes-aquaticos/noticia/2013/07/soberano-cielo-leva-os-50m-borboleta-e-conquista-o-bicampeonato-mundial.html| access-date = 29 July 2013|language=pt}}{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2013 Barcelona | work = OmegaTiming | date = 29 July 2013 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010D020100030C02FFFFFFFFFFFF02| access-date = 29 July 2013}} In the 4 × 100-metre medley, he finished 12th, along with Leonardo de Deus, Felipe Lima, and Marcelo Chierighini.{{cite web | title = Results of the 4×100-metre medley at 2013 Barcelona | work = OmegaTiming | date = 4 August 2013 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010D020100042F00FFFFFFFFFFFF02|access-date = 4 August 2013}}

File:Kazan 2015 - Victory Ceremony 50m butterfly M.JPG

File:Kazan 2015 - 50m butterfly men winners.JPG

At the 2013 FINA Swimming World Cup in Beijing, China, Santos broke the short-course South American record in the 50-metre butterfly, with a time of 22.13.{{cite web | title = Nicholas Santos wins gold and breaks record in Beijing | work = CBDA | date = 13 November 2013 | url = http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/nicholas-santos-ganha-ouro-e-bate-recorde-em-pequim | access-date = 21 September 2014 | language = pt | archive-date = 15 December 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141215095710/http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/nicholas-santos-ganha-ouro-e-bate-recorde-em-pequim | url-status = dead }}

At the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, he finished 8th in the 100-metre butterfly, and 16th in the 50-metre freestyle.{{cite web | title = Fratus won gold in the 50m freestyle with the Pan-Pacific record | work = CBDA | date = 24 August 2014 | url = http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/fratus-e-ouro-nos-50m-livre-com-recorde-do-pan-pacifico | access-date = 20 September 2014 | language = pt | archive-date = 15 December 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141215075118/http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/fratus-e-ouro-nos-50m-livre-com-recorde-do-pan-pacifico | url-status = dead }}

At the 2014 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Doha, Qatar, Santos won two gold medals on the same day. At 4 December, in the Men's 4 × 50 metre medley relay, formed by Santos, César Cielo, Felipe França Silva and Guilherme Guido, considered the "Dream Team" by Cielo (formed only by medalists or world champions in their respective individual events), Brazil won the gold shattering the world record with a time of 1:30.51.{{cite web | title = Results of the 4x50-metre medley at 2014 Doha | work = OmegaTiming | date = 4 December 2014 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010E010D00042E02FFFFFFFFFFFF02 |access-date = 12 December 2014}} At the same day, he also won the gold medal in the 4 × 50 metre mixed medley relay, along with Felipe França Silva, Etiene Medeiros and Larissa Oliveira, breaking the South American record with a time of 1:37.26, only 0.09 seconds from beating USA's world record (1:37.17).{{cite web | title = Results of the 4x50-metre mixed medley at 2014 Doha | work = OmegaTiming | date = 4 December 2014 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010E010D02043E02FFFFFFFFFFFF02 |access-date = 12 December 2014}} Santos was also trying to defend his title in the Men's 50 metre butterfly, obtained in Istanbul 2012. In the final, he faced Chad le Clos, the world's best butterfly swimmer at the time, World and Olympic champion. Santos broke the Americas record, with a time of 22.08, but lost the gold to the South African, who broke the Championship record, with a time of 21.95.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2014 Doha | work = OmegaTiming | date = 6 December 2014 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010E010D00030C02FFFFFFFFFFFF02 |access-date = 12 December 2014}} Santos also swam the Men's 100 metre butterfly, finishing in 14th place.{{cite web | title = Results of the 100-metre butterfly at 2014 Doha | work = OmegaTiming | date = 3 December 2014 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010E010D00030D01FFFFFFFFFFFF02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180719073603/http://www.omegatiming.com/file/download/?id=00010E010D00030D01FFFFFFFFFFFF02 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 19 July 2018 | access-date = 12 December 2014 }}

At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Santos finished 10th in the 50-metre freestyle.{{cite web|title = Heats at the Pan's fourth day|work = Best Swimming|date = 17 July 2015|url = http://www.bestswimming.com.br/2015/07/17/como-foram-as-eliminatorias-do-quarto-dia-de-pan/|access-date = 19 July 2015|language = pt|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184224/http://www.bestswimming.com.br/2015/07/17/como-foram-as-eliminatorias-do-quarto-dia-de-pan/|archive-date = 23 September 2015|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web |url=http://results.toronto2015.org/IRS/resTO2015/pdf/TO2015/SW/TO2015_SW_C73A1_SWM010102.pdf |title=Men's 50m Freestyle – B Final |access-date=19 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723155131/http://results.toronto2015.org/IRS/resTO2015/pdf/TO2015/SW/TO2015_SW_C73A1_SWM010102.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}

At the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Santos, 35 years old, won one of the most important medals in his career, the silver medal in the Men's 50 metre butterfly.{{cite web | title = Behind Manaudou, Nicholas ensures the silver in the 50m butterfly; Cielo is 6| work = Globoesporte | date = 3 August 2015 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/natacao/noticia/2015/08/nicholas-fica-atras-de-manaudou-e-e-prata-nos-50m-borboleta-cielo-em-6.html|access-date = 3 August 2015|language=pt}}{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2015 Kazan | work = OmegaTiming | date = 3 August 2015 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010F020000030C02FFFFFFFFFFFF02|access-date = 3 August 2015}}{{cite web | title = Brazil wins silver with Nicholas Santos, in an evening with 2 World Records | work = Best Swimming | date = 3 August 2015 | url = http://www.bestswimming.com.br/2015/08/03/brasil-ganha-prata-com-nicholas-santos-em-tarde-de-2-recordes-mundiais/ | access-date = 3 August 2015 | language = pt | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184246/http://www.bestswimming.com.br/2015/08/03/brasil-ganha-prata-com-nicholas-santos-em-tarde-de-2-recordes-mundiais/ | archive-date = 23 September 2015 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }} He became the oldest medalist in the history of the World Championships – aged 35 years and 171 days old, broke the record of Mark Warnecke, gold medalist of the 50 breaststroke at Montreal 2005, which took the podium at 35 years and 162 days old.

{{cite web | title = Save the less young medalist of World Championships | publisher = SPORTV | date = 3 August 2015 | url = http://sportv.globo.com/site/blogs/especial-blog/blog-do-coach/post/salve-o-menos-jovem-medalhista-de-campeonatos-mundiais.html|access-date = 3 August 2015|language=pt}}

At the 2016 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, he won a silver medal at the 4 × 50 metre mixed medley relay, along with Etiene Medeiros, Larissa Oliveira and Felipe Lima.{{cite web | title = Results of the 4x50-metre mixed medley relay at 2016 Windsor | work = OmegaTiming | date = 8 December 2016 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000110000D02044202FFFFFFFFFFFF02 | access-date = 25 July 2017}} He also finished 9th in the Men's 50 metre butterfly{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2016 Windsor | work = OmegaTiming | date = 9 December 2016 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000110000D00030C01FFFFFFFFFFFF02 | access-date = 25 July 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170703202342/http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000110000D00030C01FFFFFFFFFFFF02 | archive-date = 3 July 2017 | url-status = dead }} and 32nd in the Men's 50 metre freestyle.{{cite web | title = Results of the 50-metre freestyle at 2016 Windsor | work = OmegaTiming | date = 8 December 2016 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000110000D00000000FFFFFFFFFFFF02 | access-date = 25 July 2017}}

At the age of 37, at the Maria Lenk Trophy held in May 2017, he was able to beat the Americas record in the 50m butterfly, with a time of 22.61, being close to the world record of 22.43 did by Rafa Muñoz, at the super-suits era.{{cite web | title = Nicholas breaks records of Cielo, leads ranking, but does not guarantee vacancy in the World-wide one; understand | work = Globoesporte | date = 5 May 2017 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/natacao/noticia/nicholas-bate-recorde-de-cielo-lidera-ranking-mas-nao-garante-vaga-no-mundial-entenda.ghtml|access-date = 5 May 2017|language=pt}}

At the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, in the Men's 50 metre butterfly, he won again the silver medal, with a time of 22.79.

{{cite web |title=Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2017 Budapest |work=OmegaTiming |date=24 July 2017 |url=http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000111010A0104EB04FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |access-date=26 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729001229/http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000111010A0104EB04FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |archive-date=29 July 2017 |url-status=dead }} He broke a record that was his own: the oldest athlete in history to win a medal in the World Championships.{{fact|date=July 2024}}

At the 2018 FINA Swimming World Cup in Budapest, he broke the short-course World Record in the 50-metre butterfly, with a time of 21.75.

{{cite web |title=Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2018 World Cup in Budapest |work=OmegaTiming |date=6 October 2018 |url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00011201080104EB04FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |access-date=21 October 2018}}

At the 2018 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Hangzhou, China, in the Men's 50 metre butterfly, Santos won the gold medal with a time of 21.81, a new Championship record.{{cite web |title=Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2018 Hangzhou |work=OmegaTiming |date=15 December 2018 |url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000112010C0104EB04FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |access-date=15 December 2018}} He also won a bronze medal in the Men's 4 × 50 metre medley relay, along with Guilherme Guido, Felipe Lima and César Cielo.{{cite web |title=Results of the 4x50-metre medley relay at 2018 Hangzhou |work=OmegaTiming |date=15 December 2018 |url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000112010C0105F604FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |access-date=15 December 2018}} In the Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay, he finished 4th,{{cite web |title=Results of the 4x100-metre medley relay at 2018 Hangzhou |work=OmegaTiming |date=16 December 2018 |url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000112010C0105F704FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |access-date=25 December 2018}} and also finished 9th in the Mixed 4 × 50 metre medley relay.{{cite web |title=Results of the Mixed 4x50-metre medley at 2018 Hangzhou |work=OmegaTiming |date=13 December 2018 |url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000112010C0305F601FFFFFFFFFFFF01 |access-date=11 May 2019}}

At the age of 39, at the FINA Champions Swim Series held in May 2019 in Budapest, he was able to beat the Americas record in the 50m butterfly, with a time of 22.60. That was the best time of the year.{{cite web |title=Nicholas Santos Lowers 50 Fly South American Record In Budapest |work=SwimSwam |date=11 May 2019 |url=https://swimswam.com/nicholas-santos-lowers-50-fly-south-american-record-in-budapest/ |access-date=11 May 2019}}

Santos went to the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea thanks to an invitation from FINA, due to the fact that the CBDA, the Brazilian Swimming Confederation, only summoned to this Championship the swimmers of Olympic events. There he won the bronze medal in the Men's 50 metre butterfly at the age of 39, "updating" his record for the oldest swimmer in the world to win a World Championship medal.{{cite web|title=Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2019 Gwangju|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011301070104EB04FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|publisher=Omega Timing|date=22 July 2019|access-date=28 July 2019}}{{cite web|title=Dismissed by the Brazilian Confederation, Nicholas went to the world at the invitation of FINA: "No sorrows"|work=Globoesporte |url=https://globoesporte.globo.com/natacao/noticia/preterido-pela-confederacao-brasileira-nicholas-foi-ao-mundial-a-convite-da-fina-sem-magoas.ghtml|date=26 July 2019|access-date=28 July 2019 |language=pt }}

At the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in the Men's 50 metre butterfly, Santos won the gold medal with a time of 21.93.{{cite web |title=Results of the 50-metre butterfly at 2021 Abu Dhabi |work=OmegaTiming |date=20 December 2021 |url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011500190104EB0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf |access-date=20 December 2021}} At almost 42 years old, he extended his own record for the oldest swimmer ever to win a world championship title.{{cite web |title=Nicholas Santos Breaks His Own Record As Oldest Swimming World Champion At 41

|work=SwimSwam |date=20 December 2021 |url=https://swimswam.com/nicholas-santos-breaks-his-own-record-as-oldest-swimming-world-champion-at-41/?theme=mobile |access-date=20 December 2021}} He also became the 2nd Brazilian with more medals in the Short Course World Championships, only behind César Cielo.{{cite web |title=Nicholas Santos makes history and is three-time world champion in swimming |work=GloboEsporte |date=20 December 2021 |url=https://ge.globo.com/natacao/noticia/nicholas-santos-faz-historia-e-tricampeao-mundial-na-natacao.ghtml |access-date=20 December 2021}}

At the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, in the 50m butterfly, he won his third silver at World Championships, and his fourth medal in a row, at age 42, with a time of 22.78, again updating his record for oldest swimmer in history to win a medal in World Championships.{{cite web |title=Nicholas Santos, de 42 anos, é prata no Mundial de natação |work=GloboEsporte |date=19 June 2022 |url=https://ge.globo.com/natacao/noticia/2022/06/19/nicholas-santos-de-42-anos-e-prata-no-mundial-de-natacao.ghtml |access-date=19 June 2022}}

On 14 December 2022, at the 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), in Melbourne, Australia, in the 50-metre butterfly, Santos won his fourth world championship title with a time of 21.78, breaking the Championship Record, 0.03s off his own world record of 21.75. At the age of 42, he broke his own record for being the oldest swimmer to win a world title and being the only and first swimmer in the world to be a four-time world champion in the 50m butterfly event. After the gold medal ceremony, he announced his retirement from the sport. [https://ge.globo.com/natacao/noticia/2022/12/14/nicholas-santos-aos-42-e-tetracampeao-mundial-dos-50m-borboleta.ghtml Nicholas Santos, aos 42, é tetracampeão mundial][https://bestswimming.swimchannel.net/2022/12/14/os-incriveis-numeros-do-interminavel-nicholas-santos/ Os incríveis números do interminável Nicholas Santos][https://bestswimming.swimchannel.net/2022/12/14/nicholas-santos-21-78-e-tetra-campeao-mundial/ Nicholas Santos 21.78 é tetra campeão mundial][https://ge.globo.com/natacao/noticia/2022/12/14/alimentacao-estudo-e-foco-nos-detalhes-o-caminho-de-nicholas-ate-o-ouro-no-mundial-aos-42-anos.ghtml Alimentação, estudo e foco nos detalhes: o caminho de Nicholas até o ouro no Mundial aos 42 anos]

Nicholas Santos is the current holder, or former holder, of the following records:{{cite web | title = Men's Swimming Records | work = CBDA | year = 2013 | url = http://www.cbda.org.br/recordes/oficiais-masculinos-id-270 | access-date = 28 July 2013 | language = pt | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131006031328/http://www.cbda.org.br/recordes/oficiais-masculinos-id-270 | archive-date = 6 October 2013 }}

Long course (50 m):

• Americas record holder of the 50-metre butterfly: 22.60, time. Retrieved 9 May 2019
• Former South American record holder of the 4 × 100-metre freestyle: 3:14.15, time. Retrieved 10 May 2009, along with Nicolas Oliveira, Fernando Silva, and César Cielo

Short course (25 m):

• Co-World record holder of the 50-metre butterfly: 21.75, time. Retrieved 6 October 2018
• Former South American record holder of the 50-metre freestyle: 20.74, time. Retrieved 15 November 2009
• South American record holder of the 4 × 100-metre freestyle: 3:05.74, time. Retrieved 15 December 2010, along with Nicolas Oliveira, Marcelo Chierighini, and César Cielo
• World record holder of the 4 × 50-metre medley: 1:30.51, time. Retrieved 4 December 2014, along with Felipe França Silva, Guilherme Guido, and César Cielo
• South American record holder of the 4 × 50-metre mixed medley: 1:37.26, time. Retrieved 4 December 2014, along with Felipe França Silva, Etiene Medeiros, and Larissa Oliveira

{{Reflist}}

• {{World Aquatics}}
• {{International Swimming League}}
• {{Swimrankings}}
• {{Olympics.com}}
• {{Olympedia}}

{{Footer World SC Champions 50m Butterfly Men}}

{{Footer World SC Champions 4x50m Medley Men}}

{{Footer World SC Champions 4x50m Medley Mixed}}

{{Footer Pan American Champions 4x100 m Freestyle Men}}

{{Footer Universiade Champions 50m Freestyle Men}}

{{Footer Brazil Swimming 2008 Summer Olympics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Nicholas}}

Category:1980 births

Category:Living people

Category:Brazilian male butterfly swimmers

Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Category:Swimmers at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic swimmers for Brazil

Category:Swimmers at the 2007 Pan American Games

Category:Swimmers at the 2011 Pan American Games

Category:Swimmers at the 2015 Pan American Games

Category:Brazilian male freestyle swimmers

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Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)

Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming

Category:World record holders in swimming

Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Brazil

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Category:Pan American Games medalists in swimming

Category:Summer World University Games medalists in swimming

Category:Sportspeople from Ribeirão Preto

Category:South American Games gold medalists for Brazil

Category:South American Games medalists in swimming

Category:Competitors at the 2014 South American Games

Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for Brazil

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Category:Medalists at the 2005 Summer Universiade

Category:Medalists at the 2007 Summer Universiade

Category:Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games

Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games

Category:21st-century Brazilian sportsmen