Gold medalist Cesar Cielo fails to qualify for Olympics
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Olympic champion and 100-freestyle world-record holder Cesar Cielo of Brazil will miss the 2016 Olympics.
Cielo finished third in the 50-meter freestyle at Wednesday's Maria Lenk Championships, the second of two qualifiers for Brazil’s Olympic team.
Bruno Fratus and Italo Duarte finished ahead of him in 21.74 and 21.82 respectively. Duarte, Brazil's lone swimming gold medalist, shaved .26 seconds off his personal best to knock off Cielo from the Olympic team, according to NBC's Nick Zaccardi.
Upon realizing that he will not be able to compete before a home crowd to defend his Olympic title, he exited the pool crying and apologizing to his parents.
Cielo also failed to make the final of the 100-meter free at the Brazil Open, the first chance for him to qualify for the Summer Games. He scratched from the 400-free relay as well.
