Piedade Coutinho-Tavares

Piedade Coutinho-Tavares was a freestyle swimmer who was regarded as one of the best Brazilian female swimmers of all time. She competed at three Summer Olympics. Coutinho-Tavares was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1920 and competed in her first international championships in 1935 in South America. After breaking the Brazilian record for the 400 metres freestyle, Coutinho-Tavares was selected to compete at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In the 100 metres freestyle Coutinho-Tavares reached the semi-finals and in the 400 metres freestyle she finished fifth in the final. In 1937 Coutinho-Tavares set the third-fastest time in the world in the 400 metres freestyle and set two South American freestyle records in 1938. In 1941 at the Brazilian Championships, she set a national record in the 100 metres freestyle.

After taking a break from swimming to start a family, Coutinho-Tavares returned to the pool in 1943, where she continued to win national and South American titles. She was selected to take part at the 1948 London Olympics, competing in three events. Her best results were a sixth place in the final of the 400 metres freestyle and a sixth place in the 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay. At the 1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires Coutinho-Tavares won two bronze medals. The following year she competed at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, where she reached the semi-finals of the 400 metres freestyle.

Coutinho-Tavares had the following podium finishes at major championships: 3rd in the 1951 Pan American Games 400 metre freestyle, 3rd in the 1951 Pan American Games 4×100 metre freestyle (with Talita Rodrígues and the non-Olympians Idamis Busin and Ana Lucia Santa Rita).