Brazilian swimming will be concentrated in the city of Santa Catarina (Florianópolis), starting on the 4th, for the José Finkel Swimming Trophy – 36th Brazilian Absolute Championship / Correios Cup. The competition will run until September 9th, at the Aquatic Park of the Southern University of Santa Catarina (Unisul).

The fourth qualifying round for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the José Finkel Swimming Trophy, will feature a total of 54 clubs and approximately 370 athletes competing for the championship title. However, this won't be the swimmers' last chance to achieve their Beijing qualifications. In December, three competitions will be held simultaneously in São Paulo: the Open Tournament, the Brazilian Senior Championship (Daltely Guimarães Trophy), and the Brazilian Junior Championship (Júlio de Lamare Trophy).

CRFlamengo will be represented by 14 swimmers: seven men and seven women. Among them are stars like Thiago Parravicini and Mariana Brochado, who is ready to return to the intense pace of competition after missing the Rio 2007 Pan American Games.

Clube da Gávea is the biggest holder of Finkel titles with 12 wins, followed by the current four-time champion Esporte Clube Pinheiros, with nine.

The CRF delegation leaves for Santa Catarina next Saturday, the 1st.

Photo: Satiro Sodré