World Champion
For four times,
being amateur, Abílio Couto conquered world championships of
professional swimming in open waters. Abílio represented Brazil
in 8 world championships of long distance swimming version "
International Long Distance Swimming Federation ", founded
in France, 1953.
The first title was it of the English Channel (59),Abílio had
the world record and it won the professionals' test 14 days then,
with the two better times of the year, he became World champion
of the Channel, Abílio was amateur and the test was for
professionals, with that he accepted only the title and the prize
was for the second place.His second world championship was
reached in Alexandria, in the Egypt(61) .In Libanon he became
three times world champion(63), Abílio Couto won the Four
championship of theWorld in 1967, in Iuguslavia, in the Ohrid
Lake, 40Km of course. I " expired for just 12 seconds, the
placed second was my friend Aboud Heif ", told Abílio.
Abílio also participated of the World Championship of 65 (some
historical papers apoint to 64), lake Michigan, between United
States and Canada. They left 35 swimmers, they just arrived 3.
The first placed it was Aboud Heif, Abílio it arrived in second
for difference of twenty seconds; the third placed Canadian
Jacques Amiott arrived later 3 hours.
In 1975, Abílio was invited by International Long Distance
Swinning Federation to participate in the World Championship,
that at that time it was "Marathon of Nile", with 50
miles to swim. They were 33 swimmers of 20 countries, of the
which 20 completed the test.Champion was Johan Schans of Holland
(10hrs 46min), in as Aboud Heif arrived (10hrs 46min 17s) and
Abílio with 51 years was third better of the world with the time
of 10hrs 46min and 19s. Abílio was the amateur of better
placement in the world. (to see the link photos, section reports)
Abilio's Files: General World Champion by IILDSF four times, and 59 to 75 he was the first amateur, being amateur world champion by ILDSF 08 times.
1959 - English Channel: World Champion
1961 -Alexandria ( Egypt): World Champion
1963 - Beiruth ( Líbanon): World Champion
1965 ou 64- Michigan Lake( Chicago-Saint Joseph): General second place , Amateur World Champion
1967 - Ohrid ( Iuguslávia-Macedonia): World Champion
1969 - Asswan ( Egypt): General second place , Amateur World Champion
1971 - Suez Channel ( Egypt): General Sixth place, Amateur World Champion
1973 - ILDSF don't realized any world chapionship
1975 - Nile ( Egypt): Third place, Amateur World Champion