Vasha Hunt | Opelika-Auburn News

Cesar Cielo and Brett Hawke aren’t brothers. But they sure act like it.

And you know brothers, the bond between them goes way beyond words. It’s a closeness to where a look or an action says it all.

And then there’s the other side. You know, the side where dad threatens to pull over the car if they can’t get along.

That’s the way both Cielo, the former Auburn University sprinter who will represent his home country Brazil in the Beijing Olympics this month, and Hawke, also a former AU sprinter and Cielo’s coach, describe their relationship.

“We’re friends,” Hawke said. “We can talk openly and honestly with each other. There are times where we butt heads as well. And there are times that we’re really close and I know what he’s thinking and he knows what I’m thinking.”

Which can be good, and bad, says Cielo, who will swim in the 50 and 100-meter freestyles and the 400m freestyle relay in Beijing.

“It’s funny, because we are so close in age, so we have some fights like friends have fights,” the NCAA and U.S. Open record holder in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles said. “At the same time, that’s good, because we’re so close. But it is kind of hard, because he was a sprinter, too, and we have these aggressive personalities.”

Hawke has coached Cielo for the past two years. In that time, Cielo has become the fastest sprinter in the world, swimming under 19 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle more times than any other athlete.

Cielo, who is one of 25 Auburn swimmers and/or coaches going to the Olympics, owns all the major NCAA and U.S. Open records, and has become such a talent, that he chose to forgo his senior season at Auburn to turn professional. And with this being an Olympic year, Cielo is confident that the decision will work out very well for him, not only with endorsements, but also in the pool, where he will be competing in his first Olympics.

And Hawke’s been there for most of it. That’s why the Brazilian Olympic team asked Hawke, who is from Australia, to coach on their roster in Beijing.

“Cesar’s been performing so well and we’ve got such a close bond and attachment, where they (the Brazilian Olympic team) feel like his best chance at a medal are if I go along with him and help him out,” Hawke said. “It was fantastic for them to say they’ll take me along. It’s a great opportunity for me, and obviously, for Cesar.”

Hawke swam in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games for Australia. While at Auburn, Hawke was a part of the Tigers’ first national championship team in 1997. As a Tiger, Hawke was a 17-time All-American, tallying nine NCAA titles and seven SEC titles.

Cielo knows all about his success, and is excited that Brazil asked Hawke to be a part of their team.

“I’ve been listening to him a lot these last two months and its been working really well,” Cielo said of his coach and friend. “I really trust him. And I think that’s the main thing.

“We know when to separate the friendship and the coach relationship. Right now, it’s just perfect. I think having him there will just increase my chances of winning a medal.”

It’s a great opportunity for Hawke, who’s only been coaching two years.

“It’s huge,” he said. “To be picked on an Olympic team is something some coaches wait their whole lives for. I’m lucky enough that I represented Australia at two Olympics and now being an Olympic coach. It’s something that looks good on my resume.

“But at the end of the day, I’m really just more interested on how Cesar does.”

Hawke also has another concern.

“It’s going to be strange, you know,” Hawke said. “They speak Portuguese down there and I don’t speak a lick of Portuguese. I barely speak English.”

Cielo’s not worried, though.

“A lot of guys in Brazil speak English, so he won’t get lost.”

| 737-2513

Auburn’s Olympians
Here’s a list of all Auburn Tigers — past, present and future — competing in the Beijing Olympics
Sanjay Ayre (Jamaica) Track & Field
Fred Bousquet (France) Swimming
George Bovell (Trinidad & Tobago) Swimming
Mark Burns (Trinidad & Tobago) Track & Field
Cesar Cielo (Brazil) Swimming
Timicka Clarke (Bahamas) Track & Field
Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe) Swimming
Alana Dilette (Bahamas) Swimming
Vonette Dixon (Jamaica) Track & Field
Mark Gangloff (U.S.) Swimming
Margaret Hoelzer (U.S.) Swimming
Jeremy Knowles (Bahamas) Swimming
Josanne Lucas (Trinidad & Tobago) Track & Field
Gabor Mate (Hungary) Track & Field
Avard Moncur (Bahamas) Track & Field
Alexei Puninski (Croatia) Swimming
Leevan Sands (Bahamas) Track & Field
Shamar Sands (Bahamas) Track & Field
Eric Shanteau (U.S. ) Swimming
Maurice Smith (Jamaica) Track & Field
Kerron Stewart (Jamaica) Track & Field
Matt Targett (Australia) Swimming
Donald Thomas (Bahamas) Track & Field