Brasil, an S10 swimmer, made his international debut at the 2006 IPC Swimming World Championship in Durban, South Africa, where he was top of the podium in all four individual events he took part in. He also won two bronze medal as a member of the relay team.
Two years later at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics he became a four-time Paralympic champion and went even further at the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships picking up five world titles.
He was Brazil's flag bearer at the 2011 Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, an event he won six gold medals at.
At the London 2012 Paralympic Games he won three gold medals and two silvers, whilst he also broke the world record in the 50m freestyle.
His philosophy is that nothing in life comes easy and you have to have faith and work hard to become whatever you want.
As he prepares for the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships and the Rio 2016 Paralympics in his home country he may call upon such words.
