The Olympic Games are one of the most important stages in world sport. At this mega sporting event, the public has the opportunity to follow stories of glory and achievements, and in the French capital it will be no different. And for some Brazilian athletes, Paris will have an even more special meaning, as it will mark the end or the beginning of their Olympic careers.
Goodbye from Marta
When it comes to farewells, one of the ones that most draws the attention of Brazilian fans is that of Queen Marta. At 38 years of age, the Alagoas native, who has been chosen as the best player in the world on six occasions, is trying to help Brazil win its first Olympic gold in women’s football.
MARTA – 38 YEARS OLD 🥳
Day to honor our queen of football! ⚽
Pan American: 🥇🥇
World Cup: 🥈
Olympic Games: 🥈🥈
Best in the world: 👑👑👑👑👑👑Happy birthday, legend! 💚💛
📸: Alexandre Loureiro/COB pic.twitter.com/Mkkweq7QE5
— Time Brazil (@timebrasil) February 19, 2024
In Paris, Marta will not only have the opportunity to write the most beautiful chapter of her victorious career (after winning Olympic silver in 2004 and 2008), but she could also take the lead in the historical scoring charts of the sport in the Olympic Games (the athlete from Alagoas is in second place with 13 goals, behind only fellow Brazilian Cristiane, who has already scored 14 goals and was not called up).
In search of the Tri
The one who has had the privilege of winning Olympic gold, not just once, but twice (in 2008 and 2012), is middle blocker Thaísa Daher. At the Paris Games, the Minas athlete will have the opportunity to become the first Brazilian woman to win three Olympic gold medals (sailors Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze are also seeking this glory in Paris).
SIMPLY THAÍSA! 🫶 pic.twitter.com/zu3CbCbZJ4
— Time Brazil (@timebrasil) June 16, 2023
Even at 37 years of age, the player is living a moment of full prominence in her career, as she scored the point that guaranteed Minas the title of the last edition of the Women’s Volleyball Super League, a competition in which she became the highest scorer in history, with a total of 5 thousand points.
Dreaming of gold
In judo, the sport that has won Brazil the most medals in the history of the Olympic Games, Rafael Silva, known as Baby, will perform in the French capital what he himself defined as the “last dance” of his victorious career. After winning two Olympic bronze medals (in 2012 and 2016), the 37-year-old athlete from Mato Grosso do Sul will try to end his participation in the mega sporting event with gold.
#TBT of the exciting bronze medal of judoka Rafael Baby at the Rio 2016 Games! Who remembers this achievement? 🥋🇧🇷 #TimeBrazil pic.twitter.com/LckISEsW4z
— Time Brazil (@timebrasil) November 15, 2018
In the over 100 kilo category, Baby has achieved great results in the last two years: bronze at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (Chile), third place at the World Championships in Doha (Qatar) and silver at the Pan American Games held in 2024 in Rio de Janeiro.
Possible farewells
The Paris Games could also mark the Olympic farewell of other important names in Brazilian sport, such as Olympic volleyball champion Bruninho (who at 37 also has two silver medals in the mega sporting event) and Olympic silver medalist in boxing Bia Ferreira (who at 31 has already announced that this will be her last participation in an edition of the Games).
World champion
Among the newcomers to the Olympic Games, one stands out for his great chance of winning a medal. Current champion of the World Surfing Circuit (the second of his career), Filipe Toledo arrives at the competition at one of the best moments of his career. Despite being away from competitions to treat his mental health, the Brazilian from Ubatuba combines experience and technical quality to seek Olympic gold.
LET’S GO PARIS 2024 🏄🤙@filipetoledo wins a spot in surfing for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games!
✔️ Champion in Jeffreys Bay 🇿🇦
✔️ Confirmed on @wsl Finals 🏄♂️
✔️ Vacancy for Paris 2024 🇫🇷Great day for Filipinho and surfing 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/5q6NbdGhNI
— Time Brazil (@timebrasil) July 19, 2023
However, to achieve this goal he will have to face an extra challenge: his declared fear of surfing in the sea of Teahupoo (Tahiti), which has a dangerous coral reef at the bottom. Therefore, if he can perform well in such a challenging context, Filipinho has a great chance of securing a medal in his Olympic debut.
Rising star
If in artistic gymnastics Brazil’s biggest name is Rebeca Andrade, in rhythmic gymnastics the big star is Bárbara Domingos. At 24 years of age, the athlete, from Curitiba, became the first Brazilian to qualify for the individual competition in an edition of the Olympic Games.
IT’S AN OLYMPIC SPOT! 🤸♀️
Bárbara Domingos is qualified for Paris 2024 🇫🇷
The gymnast finished 14th overall, advanced to the final of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship in the clubs and secured another spot for the 🇧🇷
What a spectacular year for Babi, well deserved and let’s go to the Olympic Games! 😍 pic.twitter.com/wTSihHcJLv
— Time Brazil (@timebrasil) August 24, 2023
Babi, as the athlete is also known, showed all her ability in the last edition of the Pan American Games. In 2023 in Santiago (Chile), she was the Brazilian athlete with the most wins (three golds and two silvers). And among the gold medals was the one in the all-around. In the last World Championships in the sport, also last year, Bárbara became the first Brazilian to qualify for the all-around final, which guaranteed her qualification for the Paris Games.
New reference
While Marta is leaving the Olympic team in Paris, striker Kerolin will make her debut at the mega sporting event with the mission of helping in the search for the unprecedented gold. Despite being in the final stages of recovery from an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury in her right knee, coach Arthur Elias said in a press conference that he has a lot of confidence in the player.
“Kerolin is an athlete who was elected the best [da liga profissional] from the United States last season, was one of the main players of the Brazilian team in the last competitions, even playing in a position she had never played and with a very high power of definition and unbalancing of the game”, said the coach about the 24-year-old athlete who plays for the North Carolina Courage.
Other premieres
In Paris, other promising Brazilian athletes will take their first steps in an edition of the Olympic Games, such as judoka Beatriz Souza, volleyball player Darlan Souza, boxer Wanderley Pereira, weightlifter Amanda Schott and surfers João Chianca, Luana Silva and Tainá Hinckel.
