Phelipe Andrews Melo Rodrigues
4x100m Freestyle Relay
BrazilBiography
Started: He began swimming at age six. (Athlete, 02 Dec 2017)
Reason: He was encouraged to take up the sport by doctors. "I started to practise swimming as a form of physiotherapy. Swimming is one of the best physical therapy methods for my disability and I ended up getting a taste for the sport." (gq.globo.com, 21 Dec 2019; Athlete, 02 Dec 2017)
Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (bbc.co.uk, 13 Aug 2024)
Awards: He was named the 2019 Man of the Year by GQ magazine in Brazil. (gq.globo.com, 21 Dec 2019)
In 2018 he was inducted into the Pernambuco State Sports Hall of Fame in Brazil. (folhape.com.br, 19 Sep 2018)
He was named the 2014 Para Sports Achiever of the Year in Manchester, England. (manchester.gov.uk, 30 Apr 2015)
Additional Info: MOVE TO ENGLAND
He has spent time living in Manchester, England. "I lived in Manchester from 2012 to 2014 and it helped me take a step forward. Not in terms of performance, but it made me look at swimming with different eyes. I was starting to dislike the sport and I regained my love for it in England." (gq.globo.com, 21 Dec 2019; jconline.ne10.uol.com.br, 22 Apr 2015)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as a member of the World Para Swimming Athletes' Advisory Group. He has also worked as a volunteer with Dreamflight, a UK charity that takes children with a serious illness or impairment on trips to Orlando, FL, United States of America. (Facebook page, 06 Dec 2018; dreamflight.org, 01 Nov 2018; paralympic.org, 08 Dec 2017)
FURTHER EDUCATION
He has studied for a degree in leadership and business management at Northumbria University in Newcastle, England. (Facebook page, 06 Dec 2018; pheliperodrigues.com, 01 Feb 2018)
Sporting Relatives: His wife Liz Johnson has represented Great Britain in Para swimming. She won medals in SB6 100m breaststroke at three consecutive Paralympic Games, claiming silver in 2004, gold in 2008, and bronze in 2012. She also won three gold medals at the 2006 World Championships in Durban, South Africa. (SportsDeskOnline, 17 Jun 2021; Liz Johnson Instagram profile, 20 Mar 2020; globoesporte.globo.com, 24 Apr 2015)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderMale
Birth DateAugust 10, 1990
OccupationAthlete
EducationPhysical Education - Estacio de Sa University, Rio de Janeiro, BRA
Languages SpokenEnglish, Portuguese
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 2 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 3:48.98 |
| 2 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 23.56 |
| 2 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2012 | London, GBR | 52.42 |
| 2 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 54.22 |
| 2 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 24.64 |
| 3 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 23.50 |
| 3 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 51.48 |
| 3 | 4x100m Medley Relay - 34 Points | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 4:17.51 |
| 4 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 52.04 |
| 4 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 3:52.28 |
| 4 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2012 | London, GBR | 3:55.63 |
| 4 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2012 | London, GBR | 23.99 |
| 4 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 3:55.78 |
| 5 | 100m Butterfly - S10 | 2012 | London, GBR | 58.79 |
| 7 | 4x100m Medley Relay - 34 Points | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 4:24.61 |
| 7 | 4x100m Medley Relay - 34 Points | 2012 | London, GBR | 4:28.50 |
| 8 | 4x100m Medley Relay - 34 Points | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 4:40.01 |
| 10 | 400m Freestyle - S10 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 4:29.36 |
| 11 | 100m Butterfly - S10 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 1:01.00 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 4:10.30 |
| 1 | 4x100m Medley Relay - 34 Points | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 4:32.23 |
| 1 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 23.96 |
| 2 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 23.76 |
| 2 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2019 | London, GBR | 23.71 |
| 2 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 53.24 |
| 2 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 52.25 |
| 2 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 3:51.44 |
| 2 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 23.81 |
| 2 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 3:51.64 |
| 2 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 23.89 |
| 2 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 3:53.79 |
| 3 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 4:07.27 |
| 3 | 4x100m Medley Relay - 34 Points | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 4:35.30 |
| 3 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 23.72 |
| 3 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 52.90 |
| 3 | 100m Butterfly - S10 | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 1:01.37 |
| 3 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 53.40 |
| 3 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 53.59 |
| 3 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 24.78 |
| 4 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 53.08 |
| 4 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2019 | London, GBR | 52.14 |
| 5 | 4x100m Medley Relay - 34 Points | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 4:23.61 |
| 5 | 4x100m Medley Relay - 34 Points | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 4:35.86 |
| 6 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 4:12.06 |
| 6 | 100m Butterfly - S10 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 59.73 |
| 10 | 100m Butterfly - S10 | 2019 | London, GBR | 1:00.26 |
| ParaPan American Games | ||||
| 1 | 100m Butterfly - S10 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 1:00.47 |
| 1 | 100m Freestyle - S10 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 53.18 |
| 1 | 4x100m Freestyle Relay - 34 Points | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 4:09.00 |
| 1 | 50m Freestyle - S10 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 23.93 |
| 3 | 200m Individual Medley - SM10 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 2:23.84 |
| 5 | 100m Backstroke - S10 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 1:08.38 |
