Cielo Filho wins shock gold in men's 50m Freestyle with OR

Cesar Cielo Filho of Brazil sprang a major upset to beat his strong rivals in the men's 50m Freestyle final at the Water Cube today.


(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Cielo, who had qualified fastest for the final, emerged from a wall of white water as the jubilant and surprise winner in an Olympic record time of 21.30 seconds.

Cielo shared the bronze with Jason Lezak of the United States in the Men's 100 Freestyle final on Thursday.

In another surprise result, Frenchman Amaury Leveaux took the silver medal in a time of 21.45.


(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Thursday's 100m Freestyle champion Alain Bernard, also from France, qualified second fastest for the final but could only manage the bronze medal in the hectic finish with a time of 21.49.

World record holder Eamon Sullivan of Australia displayed earlier form that suggested he could battle Bernard for the gold, but he finished the final a disappointing sixth fastest in 21.65.

An emotional Cielo Filho wipes his tears

(Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Athens 2004 bronze medalist Roland Schoeman of South Africa, who had the fastest reaction time off the blocks of 0.64 seconds, finished in seventh place.