Gymnast Rebeca Andrade and race walker Caio Bonfim received the Best of the Year awards – King Pelé Trophy, which chooses the best athletes of the season across all disciplines, on Wednesday night (11) in Rio de Janeiro, during the Brazil Olímpico Award ceremony.
Rebeca, who competed for the prize with Ana Sátila (canoeing) and Beatriz Souza (judo), had a special year in 2024, becoming Brazil’s greatest Olympic medalist of all time in Paris (France), with six wins. “I would like to leave a kiss and a very special thank you for this award. My fourth award for best of the year”, declared the gymnast, who was not present at the ceremony, in a video message.
Rebeca Andrade wins the King Pelé Trophy at the 2024 Olympic Brazil Awards! 👑✨
With brilliant performances at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Rebeca reaffirms her position as one of the biggest names in world artistic gymnastics and Brazilian sport. It’s the fourth victory in a row… pic.twitter.com/H0Llo86Z7K
— Team Brasil (@timebrasil) December 12, 2024
In the men’s contest, Caio Bonfim beat Edival Pontes (taekwondo) and Isaquias Queiroz (canoeing). “I think I am the first Olympic athlete to win his Olympic medal in only the fourth edition. But in this fourth Olympics I learned a lesson: believe in your dreams”, declared the athlete, who won a historic silver medal in Paris, Brazil’s first in race walking.
Popular vote
Another highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Adhemar Ferreira da Silva Trophy to the coach of the Brazilian women’s volleyball team, José Roberto Guimarães. This tribute is aimed at sports personalities who represent the values that marked the career and life of the two-time Olympic champion in the triple jump (such as ethics, technical and physical efficiency, sportsmanship, respect for others, companionship and collective spirit).
“It is a great pleasure to be here receiving this honor. Adhemar Ferreira da Silva is one of the greatest icons of our sport, he brought very important values. I am very grateful for being the 23rd to receive this trophy”, declared Zé Roberto.
Simply Zé Roberto Guimarães. Nothing more needs to be said.
📷: Alexandre Loureiro / COB pic.twitter.com/kKnnPn54iA
— Team Brasil (@timebrasil) December 12, 2024
Then it was time to reveal the winners of three awards chosen by popular vote: the New Athlete trophy, the Inspire Award and the Fan Athlete. The first went to Gustavo Bala Loka Oliveira, who became the first athlete to represent Brazil in an edition of the Olympic Games in the BXM Park Freestyle. In Paris he secured a sixth place.
The Inspire Award went to canoeist Ana Sátila, who was an example of perseverance when competing in 12 events in three categories at the Paris Games: kayak (K1), placing fourth, canoe (C1), reaching fifth place, and kayak cross, with eighth place. The Fan Athlete award went to Caio Bonfim.
WE ARE ALL BALALOKIZEDSSSSS pic.twitter.com/eB7m9Bptpm
— Team Brasil (@timebrasil) December 12, 2024
Coaches
The night was also a tribute to coaches, professionals who play a central role in the careers of Brazilian Olympic athletes. Sarah Menezes, from judo, won the Best Individual Coach Award, while Francisco Porath, from artistic gymnastics, received the Best Individual Coach Award. The trophy for Best Team Coach was presented to Arthur Elias, commander of the Brazilian women’s football team.
Collective awards
The Brazil Olímpico Award also celebrated the performance of Brazilian teams. The first was the mixed judo team, which received the trophy for Best Mixed Event, for winning, in Paris, the first Olympic medal in Brazil’s history in this category. The Team of the Year trophy was given to the Brazilian women’s football team, which in 2024 won the silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games.
