Julio Cesar Gomes Santana is 20 years old and is participating in the Brazilian University Games (Jubs) for the second time, competing in swimming events in the S9 class, for people with disabilities. In the first, he won five gold medals in the five events he competed in. In the current edition of the sporting event, which is being held in Natal until October 18th, he is competing in three events. In the first, the 50 meter backstroke, which was held this Monday (13), he secured the highest place on the podium.
“Throughout the year 2025 I’ve been training a lot. My focus now is on the Brazilian absolute championship. So here I use it to gain pace in the race, in the competition, to assess how I’m doing”, declared Julio Cesar. The young man is studying his second period of physical education at Uninassau in Recife and says that the training and study routine is very hectic: “The training is being more intense, but it is manageable”.
Julio Cesar started swimming in 2019 and, in just six years of dedication to the sport, he has collected achievements in the pools. He was under-20 champion with one gold, two silvers and one bronze. In school competitions he was three times champion and won gold at the world championships held in France. Julio Cesar’s dream is to win a medal in the next edition of the Paralympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles (United States) in 2028.
