World Championships medalist Bruno Fratus of Brazil appeared on Inside With Brett Hawke to discuss his career and his preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Fratus talked about his childhood where he moved around Brazil (5:30) frequently and his early experiences with bullying and how he channeled that into his swimming career.
Bruno Fratus talked about his early inspirations in his career (13:00) including naming Gary Hall, Jr. as one of the greatest sprinters of all-time, admiring his confidence he showed on his way to winning the 50 free Olympic gold medal in 2000 and 2004. Fratus made his Olympic debut in 2012 (17:00) and discussed the lead-up to those Games at age 23 where he placed fourth in the 50 freestyle final. He talked about his frustrations after missing the podium in that race, and his own frustrations in seeing Cesar Cielo dismiss his bronze medal after that race.
Fratus referenced his move to the US (25:00) where he trained with host Hawke at Auburn University in 2013 and how valuable it was in swimming there. Fratus won the 2014 Pan Pacs in his first championship meet with Hawke with a 21.44 (34:20), and talked about the struggles he faced at that meet.
Bruno Fratus discussed how he deals with adversity (43:00), highlighting his shoulder surgery in 2018, to which he rebounded to win a silver medal in the 50 free at the 2019 Worlds. He also referenced his eating habits (47:00) and how seriously he and his wife take what he puts in his body that has allowed him to be successful late in his career.
Fratus talked about swimming in a home Olympics in 2016 (59:00) when he placed sixth in the 50 free final in Rio and why it was the worst meet experience of his life.
Bruno Fratus is the reigning two-time Worlds silver medalist in the 50 freestyle and one of the medal favorites for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and explained that the elusive gold medal is still fueling him (55:30).