Men's 50m Freestyle: Cielo Filho wins shock gold

Cielo Filho of Brazil wipes his eyes during the medal ceremony (Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(BEIJING, August 16) -- Brazil's Cesar Cielo Filho sprang a major upset to beat his more fancied rivals to the wall in the Men's 50m Freestyle final at the National Aquatics Center on Saturday.

Cielo Filho, who had qualified fastest for the final, emerged from a wall of white water as the jubilant and surprise winner in an Olympic record time of 21.30 seconds.

Cielo Filho shared the bronze with Jason Lezak of the United States in the Men's 100 Freestyle on Thursday.

In another surprise result, French Amaury Leveaux took the silver medal in a time of 21.45.

Thursday's 100m Freestyle champion Alain Bernard, also from France, qualified second fastest for the final but could only manage the bronze medal in the hectic finish with a time of 21.49.

World record holder Eamon Sullivan of Australia displayed earlier form that suggested he could battle Bernard for the gold, but he finished the final a disappointing sixth fastest in 21.65.

Athens 2004 bronze medalist Roland Schoeman of South Africa, who had the fastest reaction time off the blocks of 0.64 seconds, finished in seventh place.

Cielo Filho celebrates his victory. (Photo credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)