At 18 years old, Romero was at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where he finished 8th place in the 200-metre backstroke, 20th in the 100-metre backstroke, and 18th in the 4×100-metre medley.[1] At the 200-metre backstroke, he broke his first South American record, with a time of 2:02.26 at heats.[2][3]
At the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, he won the gold medal in the 200-metre backstroke.[6] Romero also finished 5th in the 100-metre backstroke.[7]
Romero was in 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where he finished 10th place in the 200-metre backstroke, and 21st in the 100-metre backstroke.[1]
Participating in the 1994 World Aquatics Championships, held in September in Rome, Italy, the Brazilian got the 12th place in the 200-metre backstroke, and the 21st place in the 100-metre backstroke.[8]
At the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, he won the silver medal in the 4×100-metre medley and bronze in the 200-metre backstroke.[9] He also finished 4th in the 100-metre backstroke.[10]
In December 1999, he broke the long course South American record of the 200-metre backstroke for the last time, with a time of 1:59.23.[14] His record was only broken in 2007 Pan Am Games by Thiago Pereira.[15][16]
Romero was in 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where he finished 7th place in the 200-metre backstroke (his best Olympic participation), and 24th in the 100-metre backstroke.[1]
He was for many years the South American record holder, a total of 29 South American records and 41 Brazilian records. Pan American champion, 15 times champion in 200-metre backstroke Brazil Swimming Trophy, 10 times South American champion in the 200-metre backstroke, all os this in 27 years of sports career.[22][23]
After professional swimming
Between 2004 and 2006, Romero was Under-Secretary of Sports, of the state of Minas Gerais. In 2007, he held the position of Deputy Secretary, of the Department of Sports and Youth of Minas Gerais. In 2013, he was the President of the National Forum of State Secretaries and Managers of Sport and Leisure.[24]