Participated at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships in Guayaquil, where he finished 8th in the 400-metre individual medley final, and 17th in the 1500-metre freestyle. The conditions were adverse in Ecuador. Ricardo Prado gave a statement to a Brazilian newspaper, telling the situation: "The hotel we stayed at was not well attended. It was directly across the Guayaquil bus station. I managed to reach the final of the 200-metre individual medley, but I was weak because food there was terrible, and finished the race in eighth place." Prado landed at home with gold in the neck and a big mycosis in the belly. Djan Madruga had worse luck: he contracted typhoid.