Men's 100m Freestyle World Record: Reaching New Heights (6)

Siello is an incredibly dedicated swimmer who trains intensely for several hours every day in his quest to break this world record. He places great emphasis on building muscle strength, particularly focusing on core workouts to maintain powerful propulsion and stability in the water. His strength regimen includes a variety of exercises such as push-ups, dumbbell training, and pull-ups. Beyond strength training, Siello also hones his swimming technique—perfecting everything from stroke mechanics and breathing techniques to leg movements—through consistent practice and fine-tuning. To boost his swimming speed even further, he incorporates high-intensity cardio sessions like long-distance running and stair climbing. Additionally, he engages in interval training to enhance both endurance and his ability to perform under pressure.

As a top-level athlete, Cielo faces immense pressure and high expectations, so she relies on mental training to manage her emotions, reduce stress, and cultivate confidence and focus.

Before Cielo set his record, the men’s 100-meter freestyle world record had never lasted longer than eight years—between the European Championships in March 2008 and the World Championships in July 2009, three swimmers broke the record seven times. Yet over the next 13 years, Cielo’s remarkable 46.91-second mark remained unchallenged. A key reason for this durability was that Cielo wore the high-tech "sharkskin" swimsuit when he broke the record. However, starting in 2010, the International Swimming Federation banned the use of such advanced swimwear. Since then, breaking records has become far more challenging—relying solely on natural athleticism and technique, it’s now incredibly difficult to surpass those historic marks once enhanced by cutting-edge technology.

Although several swimmers have come close to breaking the 46.91-second mark, none have managed to surpass it. Australian star Cameron McEvoy once clocked a time of 47.04 seconds in 2016, while America’s “Flying Fish,” Caeleb Dressel, delivered an astonishing 46.96-second performance in 2019—the first time in a decade that a swimmer dipped below 47 seconds. Yet, even these impressive feats haven’t been enough to challenge Cielo’s longstanding record.