Athletes from the Mangueira Olympic Village participate in the “King and Queen of the Sea” swimming circuit

Thirty-eight athletes from Vila Olímpica da Mangueira participated in the Circuito Rei e Rainha do Mar, a swimming and running championship in the sea, in Copacabana, on December 7 and 8. The competition, which turned 15 in 2024, had around 6 thousand entrants in the Open, Sprint, Classic, Challenge, Super Challenge, 15-year-old Challenge and Beach Biathlon categories. Some swimmers from Vila stood out and reached the podium, such as Marcos Silva, who won gold and silver in two events in the 20 to 24-year-old category, Mariana Ribeiro, who was second in the 9 to 11-year-old category, Luiz Miguel Lourenço Silva, who came in third in the 14 to 16-year-old category in the Sprint and Brayan Dias, who took bronze in the 17 to 19-year-old category.

– It’s great to see that the Mangueira Olympic Village swimming team continues to evolve and has become a reference in open water. They always stand out in major competitions and make us very proud – says Sports Secretary Guilherme Schleder.

Among the medalists, Marcos Silva, from Vila Olímpica da Mangueira, came first in the 20 to 24 age category and was fifth overall in the Open category. Marcos was also second in the category and 18th overall in the Sprint category:

– It was a wonderful competition, with great swimmers. I was super happy to get so close to these athletes and to have done an excellent race. We are going strong and, next year, we will have even better results – he says.

Marcos started swimming at the Olympic Village in 2013, when he was still a child. He gradually developed a taste for the sport and progressed. What was once a hobby became his profession. He began studying Physical Education and is now an intern at the Olympic Village, inspiring and setting an example for other young people.

– When I was nine years old, I started swimming at the Vila Olímpica da Mangueira at the beginner level. Later, I moved up to the advanced level and joined the swimming team, where I was always encouraged to compete. With all this encouragement and the wonderful work of my teacher Danuza Siqueira, I won many medals and trophies in major competitions, both in the pool and in the sea. Today, in addition to practicing the sport, I started studying Physical Education and I am an intern at the same place that welcomed me and made me who I am – he says.

The Mangueira team began to be formed in 2016 by teacher Danuza Siqueira and, since their debut in competitions, in the King and Queen of the Sea Kids, the students have not stopped evolving. Danuza, who participated in the Beach Biathlon and Sprint events, speaks enthusiastically about the achievements and about having managed to be present with a greater number of athletes registered in this stage.

– Our team has been a reference in open water events. We are known and praised wherever we go. This stage was excellent for everyone. We won medals in our age group and we made a mark in the overall standings, achieved in the Open event with the fifth place overall by Marcos Silva, who never fails to shine in every competition he participates in. We ended our competition season with a flourish in this event, which we have been looking forward to participating in and enjoying the good energy it transmits to us – says Danuza.

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December 10, 2024

Appointments: athletes copacabana challenge PE Medals swimming Queen of the Sea Mangueira Olympic Village