Luis Nicolao

Luis Alberto Nicolao (born June 28, 1944 in Buenos Aires) is a retired butterfly swimmer from Argentina, who in 1962 twice broke the world record in the men's 100 metres butterfly (long course). He first did so on April 24, 1962 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he clocked 58.4. Three days later he raised the standard to 57.0. Five years after that performance US swimming ace Mark Spitz broke Nicolao's top time.

Nicolao represented his native country in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1960. Two years earlier in Cali, Colombia, when he was just fourteen years of age, he already became champion of South America in the men's 100m butterfly. Nicolae later went on to study in the United States, where his eldest son became a water polo coach.

References

* [http://www.redargentina.com/DeportesArgentinos/LuisAlbertoNicolao.asp Red Argentina Profile]