Schools named after Brazilian Paralympians

“Now I know I am going to have my name here for years to come because of what I was able to do at the Rio 2016 Paralympics."

Brazilian Rio 2016 athletics champions Felipe Gomes, Daniel Tavares Martins and Ricardo Costa Oliveira, alongside Olympic medallists, were honoured by the Rio City Hall and had public schools named after them in recognition of their performances at September’s Paralympics.

Gomes claimed gold in the men’s 4x100m T11-13 and silver in the 100m, 200m and 400m T11, Tavares Martins set a world record of 47.22 on his way to gold in the men’s 400m T20 and Costa Oliveira won the men’s long jump T11.

"It is certainly one of the greatest honours of my life,” said Gomes, whose name is featured in a school in the Tanque neighbourhood, in the West Side of Rio de Janeiro.

“Now I know I am going to have my name here for years to come because of what I was able to do at the Rio 2016 Paralympics."

Tavares Martins, who names a school in Ricardo de Albuquerque, in the North of Rio, added: “I am very happy and kind of surprised with this honour.

“Studying is the most important thing you can do for yourself. I will be able to tell the students that, regardless of what the barriers may look like, you should never give up on your dream. I have just fulfilled mine.”

A school in the Guaratiba area, in the West of Rio, was named after Costa Oliveira.

Brazil grabbed a total of 72 medals at Rio 2016 - 14 golds, 29 silvers and 29 bronzes -.