Brazil Sends Highest Number of Athletes Ever to Olympics

For the Beijing Olympic Games, Brazil is sending the largest ever delegation in its history.

A total of 277 Brazilian athletes are traveling to China with an average age of 26 and average height of 1.77 meters.

The tallest Brazilian in this year's delegation will be Rodrigao at 2.05 meters, and the smallest athlete remains Daiane do Santos who stands at 1.46 meters.

The youngest is Ethiene Frando, 16, who will compete in gymnastics. She is also the lightest with only 39.5 kilos.

The heaviest belongs to judoka Joao Gabriel Schlitter at 114 kilos. And he hopes to put on a couple more kilos so that he can compete at a weight category of 118 kilos.

Of Brazil's delegation, canoeing is the youngest team with an average age of 19.

Brazil sailing made to the podium most times at 14, while those have never received medals in the Olympics include platform diving, table tennis, taekwondo and rowing.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)

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