This Paraguayan pair lit up the competition on day two at the Aspire Dome taking two gold, a bronze, and a masters world record on an entertaining day of racing in Doha.
Just a fortnight after representing his nation at the World Aquatics Championships, Paraguay’s Charles Hockin Brusquetti has returned to the competition pool in Doha for the World Aquatics Masters Championships with a remarkable masters world record breaking swim in the Men’s 35-39 years 200m Backstroke.
The Paraguayan, who is competing at his second World Aquatics Masters Championships, stunned the Aspire Dome with a dominant victory over the four lap swim with his 2:04.96 more than three seconds faster than the existing masters world record and the fastest time across all age-groups in Doha.
On what was a standout day for both of the Paraguayan pool swimmers competing in Doha, teammate Eduardo Daniel Carrillo Canela narrowly missed gold in the Men’s 40-44 years age group, touching within a second of the winner to take home bronze.
Both swimmers are competing at their second masters championships following Kyushu/Fukuoka 2023, although the two close friends have had considerably different pathways into masters competition.
Hockin is still competing at an international level with the recently completed World Aquatics Championships his seventh career championships. Having first represented his country at Barcelona 2013, Hockin has competed at every championships since including Kazan 2015, Budapest 2017, Gwangju 2019, Budapest 2022 and Fukuoka 2023. He has also represented Paraguay at seven World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) between 2010 and 2022.
“I love everything about swimming and being in my thirties and still active and to be able to compete at both the World Championships and World Masters Championships keeps me motivated,” Hockin told World Aquatics.
“I am here to compete with the best in the world and to match or improve my results from Japan last year.”
While Hockin is embracing masters competitions while still competing at a senior level, Carrillo’s break from competition had been seventeen years. After his debut World Aquatics Championships at Montreal 2005, and World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) appearances at Moscow 2002, Indianapolis 2004, and Shanghai 2006, Carrillo wouldn’t again race for his nation at a World Aquatics event until last year’s masters championships in Japan.
I always want to swim with the fastest swimmers in world.
“A long time dream of mine was to win a World Aquatics medal, and I managed to achieve that in Fukuoka alongside my brother and my swimming brothers. Here in Doha I just hope to keep enjoying swimming and going as fast as I can.”
Both swimmers told World Aquatics that on top of competing, they were fully embracing masters competitions which enabled them to stay fit and healthy, whilst making new friends and travelling the world.
It is really interesting how can you make friends and rivals at the same time – the camaraderie at a masters level is just awesome.
“You meet a lot of people that have the same passion to be the best they can be. Swimming is a special sport and at the end it is ultimately just you racing yourself. With enough time, practice and dedication, you can do anything you put your mind to. It doesn't depend on anything else, only you, and your possibilities, just like anything in your life.”
“What I like the most is being able to get to know new cultures and make new friends from all over the world,” adds Hockin.
“I have friends that I made in my first championships and we are still in touch. It's something unique and beautiful that sports give you.”
Hockin also told World Aquatics that over his long career in the sport, it was water that had always provided him with a ‘release’.
“I love swimming because when you have bad days, you can go under the water, into that void, and you hear nothing – it’s just you with yourself,’ said Hockin.
“You let go of everything bad and get out of the water refreshed.”
With a world masters record in his first event here in Doha, Hockin adds he is looking forward to some further fast swims at the Aspire Dome before heading back home to his new ‘inspiration’.
“In the past year I have scaled back my training as I now have a family to take care of and love,” said Hockin.
“My 17 month-old daughter Izibelle, my life changed with her arrival, and I'm in love with her, my wife Gabriela and life.”