Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Intellectual impairment
Classification
S14, SB14, SM14
Further personal information
Residence
Maringá, BRA
Occupation
Athlete
Languages
Portuguese
Higher education
Gastronomy - Maringa University Centre [UniCesumar]: Brazil
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She began practising the sport with coaches in 2010 in Maringa, Brazil.
Why this sport?
She first tried swimming in her family's pool. The sport then became part of her academic development, before she was spotted by a coach who encouraged her to start competing. Her father also thought swimming would occupy her and her twin sister Debora while he was working after their mother died when they were age 11.
Club / Team
Uniao Metropolitana Paradesportiva de Maringa [UMPM] [BRA] / Associacao de Pais e Atletas da Natacao [APAN] [BRA]:
Name of coach
Andre Yamazaki Pereira [personal]
International debut
Year
2016
Competing for
Brazil
Location
Rio de Janeiro, BRA
General interest
Nicknames
Bia (unimed.coop.br, 07 Jul 2017)
Hobbies
Making TikTok videos and playing with her dog, Dori. (esporte.pr.gov.br, 05 Nov 2020)
Memorable sporting achievement
Competing in the SB14 100m breaststroke and the S14 200m freestyle at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 16 Jun 2021; revistamarta.com, 02 Apr 2021)
Hero / Idol
Brazilian swimmers Joao Gomes Jr. and Felipe Silva, Brazilian Para swimmer Daniel Dias, US swimmer Michael Phelps. (esporte.pr.gov.br, 05 Nov 2020)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"With talent we win matches, but with teamwork and intelligence we win championships." (Facebook profile, 21 Mar 2020)
Awards and honours
In February 2020 she was given a Merit Award by the Maringa Council in Brazil. (ofatomaringa.com.br, 10 Feb 2020)
Famous relatives
Her twin sister Debora has represented Brazil in Para swimming. She won bronze in the SB14 100m breaststroke at the 2019 World Championships in London, England and gold in the SB14 100m breaststroke at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. (SportsDeskOnline, 30 Mar 2020; paralympic.org, 26 Aug 2019)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (revistamarta.com, 02 Apr 2021)
Impairment
She and her twin sister Debora were born premature. They were diagnosed with an intellectual impairment at age six. (semprefamilia.com.br, 31 Aug 2019)
Other information
SIBLING RIVALRY
She admits that she has a healthy rivalry with her twin sister Debora, who also represents Brazil in Para swimming. The pair regularly compete against each other in events and she finished second to Debora in the SB14 100m breaststroke at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. "We are sisters and we like each other, but in the pool we want to beat each other. It is a healthy rivalry because we train together and help motivate each other. When I saw my sister Debora was beating me [at the 2019 Parapan American Games], my thought was, 'Yes, Debora. Do it, beat me and show what we are capable of'. Inside the pool we are rivals. This is normal. But we cheer for each other. It's cool. She gives me strength and I give her strength. I beat her records and she beats mine. It is an inspiration and our real rival is the clock." (esporte.pr.gov.br, 05 Nov 2020; paralympic.org, 26 Aug 2019; virtus.sport, 25 Nov 2017)
She admits that she has a healthy rivalry with her twin sister Debora, who also represents Brazil in Para swimming. The pair regularly compete against each other in events and she finished second to Debora in the SB14 100m breaststroke at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. "We are sisters and we like each other, but in the pool we want to beat each other. It is a healthy rivalry because we train together and help motivate each other. When I saw my sister Debora was beating me [at the 2019 Parapan American Games], my thought was, 'Yes, Debora. Do it, beat me and show what we are capable of'. Inside the pool we are rivals. This is normal. But we cheer for each other. It's cool. She gives me strength and I give her strength. I beat her records and she beats mine. It is an inspiration and our real rival is the clock." (esporte.pr.gov.br, 05 Nov 2020; paralympic.org, 26 Aug 2019; virtus.sport, 25 Nov 2017)
Results
Unit | Date | Rank |
---|
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's 200 m Freestyle S14 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-11 | 5 | |
Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB14 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-14 | 3 | |
Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB14 | Final Round | 2016-09-14 | 5 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB14 | Final 1 | 2017-12-02 | 2 | |
Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM14 | Final 1 | 2017-12-04 | 7 | |
Women's 200 m Individual Medley SM14 | Heat 2 | 2017-12-04 | 8 | |
Women's 200 m Freestyle S14 | Final 1 | 2017-12-05 | 6 | |
Women's 100 m Butterfly S14 | Heat 2 | 2017-12-07 | 9 |