Awards of Abilio Couto

Title of Baron

The prince of Deolz ( cousin of the Rainha Elizabeth of England) enchanted with the an amateur's fact to win a world championship of professionals, and still to deny the prize that was for the professional winner, judged that Brazilian Abílio Couto embodied the gentlemen's spirit of Dantanho warriors and that it granted it the title of nobility of Baron of Sorano, in whose heraldry there is the note: " Manet Avita Virtus ", that means: it conserved the ancestors' virtue. Baron's title is passed of father for son.

Peronality of the sport

Abílio Couto was one of the winners in the opening of the 5 National Olympics of Sesi, in São Paulo on August 11, 1995, that received the title of personality of the sport, granted by the Social Sesi-service of the Industry, in Brazil. Other athletles who had won the title was Pele ( Soccer) , Hortência ( Basket), Maria Lenk ( Swimming) and others.

Athletes of the year of 1958

The year of 1958 was the most complete year for the sport in Brazil, because it had champions in almost all the modalities. The newspaper THE GLOBO ask to a very large number of sporting columnists of North to South of the country, with relationship to the five national names that more bright in the year of 1958. Nothing less than 21 athletes were reminded, numbers plenty superior to the precedent, being licit to stand out that the diversity of votes was already expected, and 58 received the epithet of " Year of gold of the Brazilian sport ".
Source: The GLOBE, sporting edition, pág 09, 1958

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION:

1- Pelé (Soccer) ...86,5pts
2- Maria Ester Bueno (Tennis) ...85pts
3- ABILIO COUTO (Swimming) ...39pts
4- Garrincha (Soccer) ...31pts
5- Didi (Soccer) ...24,5pts
6- Biriba (Table tennis) ...24,3pts
7- José Teles (Athletism) ...17pts
8- Cláudio Rosa (Ciclism) ...12,3pts
9- Pedro Galasso ( Boxing) ...11pts
10- Belini, Nilton Santos (Soccer) ...5pts
12- Eder Jofre (Boxing), Ademar Ferreira da Silva (Athletism) ...3pts

Athletes of the Year of 1959

Abílio Álvaro of Costa Couto, was one of the largest national esportists of the year(1959), its strokes united England to France, in record time. The merit of Abílio is very larger, when we considered that was him practically, that instituted the swimming of long distance in our country. The placement of Abílio belonged to 4th better athlete of 1959.
Source: Newspaper Gazeta Esportiva, 04/01/1960, pág 27

Honoree Member of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame

Happened at Flórida (10,11,12 May, 2002) the biggest award ceremony of the International Swimming, the Annual International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.The ceremony where the Hall of fame announce your news honorees.To this year, the brazillian Abilio Couto was inducted to the Hall, on the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

In this occasion, the family of Couto donated the Thropy of the World Record of the English Channel crossing and the certificate of this record too, beated by Couto in 1959. About this action, very applaused in the ceremony, the ISHOF reported by letter to Daniel Couto the following:

Dear Daniel

We at the International Swimming Hall of Fame are most pleased that we had an opportunity to meet you at our recent ceremonies honoring your grandfather, the great Brazillian marathon swimmer Abilio Couto. We all marveled at his numerous accomplishments.

We also wish to thank you for the memorabilia presented to the International Swimming Hall of Fame on behalf of your family:

1. Abilio Couto´s Channel Swimming Association certificate confirming his world record swim across the English Channel in 1959.

2. The silver cup presented to him by the Channel Swimming Association for his world record breaking swim.

3. Some of the finest photographs we have seen of a marathon swimmer swimming the English Channel and Straits of Gibraltar.

These items will be placed on permanent display in our exhibit area. We appreciate the statement you made when we suggested that somw of the items may be wanted to kept by your family. You adviced us that your family felt that it would be more meanningful if the entire world couls see and appreciate these items rather than just your family. This generous and unselfish act is greatly appreciated.

Again we were most happy that we were able to meet you and we wish you and your family the best in the future. Your grandfather would be very proud, i´m sure.

With warm personal regards, Bob Duenkel - Executive Director - International Swimming Hall of Fame.

And in the ceremony was delivered too a book about Couto, telling the whole history of his carreer. Some copies of this book will make part of the official library of the Hall of Fame, called Henning Library and Archive.

To the realization of this trip, the CBDA ( Brazillian Confederation of Acquatics Sports), the Municipal Govern of Ribeirao Preto and the bussinesman Luiz Roberto Jabali, helped to pay the expenses of Daniel Couto. Daniel represented your grandfather in that ceremony . The CBDA was well represented too, by the person of Maria Lenk, who was very applauded in the ceremony.

Homage from the Aquatic Federation of the State of Sao Paulo

In November 26 Abilio Couto receipt a homage from the Aquatic Federation of the State of Sao Paulo( FAP), Brazil. This homage happened inside a dinner with the presence of 700 swimmers who had swan in the Stadual championship, called "Throphy Abilio Couto".

The Throphy Abilio Couto it´s the second biggest open water championship in the world in number of swimmers, some steps have more than 1.000 swimmers, of all the ages. The biggest take place in Australia, reported FINA.

In the year of 2001 the championship of the state of Sao Paulo completed 20 years, and Igor de Souza, organizator of the championship made a homage to Couto, Couto was the person who stabilished the first championship, 20 years ago.

Titles and awards

- Title of "Father of Open water" in Brazil
- Sport Merit, given by the Brazilian Government, more important badge of the Brazilian sport ( 1966 )
- Medal of Santa Brígida, won in Sweden
- Medal of San Sebastian, won in Spain
- Medal of José Bonifácio
- Medal Anchieta
- Citizen's title Caraguatatubense, granted by the City Hall of Caraguatatuba
- Honoree member of the International Marathon Hall of fame ( Class of 2002 )
- Title of Baron of Sorano