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By T. Fakhoury  Charles Oliveira, a Brazilian Boy born in 1989 who grew up in the district of Vincente De Carvalho in a a poor Christian family amidst the chaos and dangers of the favelas. Just like any other boy he had the dream to become a football player, sadly this dream was interrupted young as at the age of 7, Charles was fighting for his own life as he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and heart murmur, a disease that affected his heart valves and sadly this disease would stop him from practicing any sports, Charles was close to once even becoming Paraplegic as his parents didn’t have the money to pay for medical treatment.
Years passed, and the small Charles who already was 12 was healthy, he decided to begin practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, although his parents had a low income, the Jiu-Jitsu Instructor “Roger Coelho” Offered Charles free lessons, Roger was sadly shot in between gunfights of the police and Gang members. Charles continued practicing Jiu-Jitsu the following years and won his first important title in 2003 in the white belt category, then in 2008 Charles started his MMA Career, and on the first round, Charles defeated Jackson ( his opponent) by Submission ( taping out of the fight, when a opponent has a undefeatable move locked on you), and Charles went on to win this tournament and winning the finals. After this tournament, Charles continued to fight in many tournaments and mostly winning them, having an almost perfect career number, this called the attention of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Club) The biggest fighting club/ league in the world where many other famous Brazilians held records like Anderson Silva… And in 2010, he officially joined the UFC and became a partner of the league Charles went on to start his career in the UFC, as a skinny underrated fighter, who could easily beat an opponent in the ground by Submission, many years later in 2017, Charles was regarded as a ferocious ground attacker, with many wins under his name was now the strongest fighter in the Lightweight Bout after Khabib Nurmagdomev Retired, and on the 15 of March 2021 Charles fought against Michael Chandler and after a thought fight Charles found a clean strike, bounced on Michael and Knocked him out, This gave Charles his first UFC Lightweight Champion Belt. Charles in now known as “ O Iluminado” after this amazing life story, Charles is still competing in the UFC, a still very strong opponent and feared by many, But as I wrote this I believe that this represents the essence of Brazil, a Poor person, born in an dangerous place, managed to follow his dreams and become a worldwide known fighter.
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By A. Hemnani  Ayrton Senna is a legend in the world of motorsports and was deeply beloved in Brazil. His legacy extended beyond the racetrack, becoming a symbol of resilience and bravery for the entire country. Senna's time in Formula 1 captured the attention of many, and he managed to speed into every heart in Brazil, representing not just a champion, but a beacon of hope for the Brazilian people.
Senna's journey started by go-kart racing in Interlagos, where his talent quickly emerged. His move to Formula 1 in 1984 with Toleman was the beginning of his legendary career. showing his early struggles. Senna won three Formula 1 World Championships (1988, 1990, and 1991) with Mclaren, each victory representing not just his driving but also his ability to overcome challenges on and off the racetrack. Something very iconic in Senna’s career was his rivalry with French driver Alain Prost. Their rivalry, especially in the 1989 and 1990 seasons, added an element tension to both the sport, and his career. Senna established the Ayrton Senna Institute ( Instituto Ayrton Senna) in 1994, a organization focused on improving education for disadvantaged children in Brazil. His dedication to improving the lives of others, especially in Brasil, will always be remembered. That is why, Senna is considered not only one of the gratest drivers in formula 1, but also as someone who put others first, and many current drivers look up to him for inspiration. By E. Rizkallah  The year was 2002, Alex Pereira, a 14-year-old boy at the time who lived in the favelas of São Paulo got a job at a local tire shop to help support his family. They were a family of 9 and they all lived together in a small house which his dad built by himself in the favelas of São Paulo. Alex started working full time at the tire shop because he couldn't study like the other kids and knew that studying wasn't for him. As he started getting to know all the employees of the tire shop, he started getting close to them and after 6 months he was one of the best employees of the shop. His boss said he was strong, and he was the hardest working employee there. While he became really focused on the tire shop, his brother started to get into bad habits involving drugs and got really into selling drugs in the favela they lived in. This really drove him and his brother apart because he did not want to get involved with this type of activity. Although he didn't want to get involved with drugs he also started to gain some bad habits from his co workers in the tire shop. They started to get him into drinking alcohol and by the time he was 15 he couldn't go one day without drinking. He used to drink about 1L of cachaça every day. This led him down a bad road and was getting worse every day. After some time, he knew he had to change but every time he tried quitting he would get back into it after a few days. By 19 year old, he found out that one thing people do to get over drinking was sports, he was never good in soccer which was famous in Brazil and he knew it wasn't for him. Thats what eventually got him into kickboxing.
In 2012, Alex was 25 years old, by that time he already had 2 sons but he was still struggling. He had already spent 4 years trying to quit drinking. He was fighting Jason Wilness, and got knocked down by a punch to his liver, he barely got up and he then continued to fight. With only 18 seconds remaining of the second round, he gets kicked in the leg and can't keep fighting and loses that fight by technical knockout. That fight was what made him feel that he really needed to quit drinking and that his life was already falling apart and would get even worse if he continued on the path he was going. Thats when he met his soon to be mentor, Belocqua Wera. When Wera was training Alex, he punched him in the stomach while working on sparring. That was when Wera noticed that at Alex's current stage, which he was drinking around 1L of cachaça per day, he was weak and Wera questioned if he was worth training or if he was just waiting his time. Alex then got up from that punch, and Wera saw the anger in his eyes and he noticed that Alex wasn't weak but instead he was a warrior but he was rotten inside due to all the drinking. Wera then decided to show Alex his indigenous side and he thought that it would be the turning point to help him get off drinking. In his next fight, everyone could see that Alex was a changed man, his plan to get off drinking worked and it really paid off. He then went on to win almost every fight and went on to becoming state champion, pan American and south American champion too. He finally thought and felt like a champion not only in the ring but also in life. But then was when someone would come and try to take it all away from him. In 2016 he went to China to fight the soon to be UFC champion Israel Adesanya. He didn't imagine that would be a hard fight because he was bigger and stronger than his opponent. That fight went the distance and Alex was shocked during the fight because Adesanya's technique was something that he had never seen before. Both fighters had assumed that Adesanya had won that fight by a sheer miracle, the judge raised Alex's hand and even he was shocked by that decision. They fought again in 2017, in Brazil this time, and Alex managed to knock out Adesanya. This put their rivalry to a pause and no one expected them to ever fight again. Alex went on to fighting in Glory kickboxing champion and managed to win in 2 weight divisions. After Adesanya's loss against Alex, he went on to fight for the UFC in MMA. Adesanya managed to become a UFC champion which is one of the biggest MMA companies in the world and the fighters there are considered to be the best in the world. Alex just stayed in Glory kickboxing and was not getting even close to the amount of fame that Adesanya was. Everything would have stayed the same and both fighters would not have met again if it wasn't for an interview which Adesanya talked bad about Alex. He mentioned how he is a world champion now and how Alex always talks about him. This made Alex want to join the UFC to prove everyone wrong. Normally, it takes years for a fighter to get a chance to fight the champion of their weight class because they must slowly move up the rankings in their weight division. But, due to their past rivalry, this sped up the process for Alex and after only 1 year in the UFC, he got a chance to compete for the championship belt against Israel Adesanya. It was an intense fight and Alex almost got knocked out in the first round but got saved by the bell. Everyone thought that in the next round it would be over for him, but he managed to stay in the fight and keep up with Adesanya's difficult technique. Alex managed to knock out Adesanya in the final round with less than 2 minutes remaining. And that night he became the UFC champion of the world. Alex is still a Champion to this day and has defended his title multiple times against different opponents and has even moved up a weight division and is champion in the light heavy weight division now. His fights are always one of the most exciting to watch because he always ends them early by knocking his opponent out. This is how Alex Pereira managed to go from a man dealing with drinking problems and working in a tire shop, to becoming one of the best fighters in the world. By R. Thomas  The Olympics is an occurrence that puts both our competitiveness and nationalities on the line. Screaming when your country scores, crying when it loses but most of all, doing it together with your friends, family and country. 206 countries all come together simply to compete in the games, can you imagine, 206 different nationalities all in a single place? The 2016 Olympics were hosted in Rio de Janeiro, and by reading on you will uncover all the fun facts and hidden secrets behind the games.
By: M. Lanzelotti  Brazil is a country known for its vibrant culture, passionate people, and an undeniable spirit of perseverance. These qualities shine brightly in the Brazilian judo team, a powerhouse in international judo competitions. More than just a sport, judo in Brazil represents discipline, resilience, and the unbreakable Brazilian fighting spirit that has made the nation one of the top contenders in the world.
Brazilian judo has a rich history, beginning in the early 20th century when Japanese immigrants brought the martial art to the country. Over the decades, Brazil developed its own distinctive style, blending traditional judo techniques with a uniquely Brazilian flair—aggressive yet strategic, technical yet creative. This combination has led to a long list of achievements on the global stage, including multiple Olympic and World Championship medals. The Brazilian judo team embodies the nation’s deep-rooted values of hard work, passion, and perseverance. Athletes train tirelessly, often overcoming economic hardships, limited resources, and fierce competition to make it to the top. Their determination is a testament to the Brazilian "ginga"—a term often associated with movement, rhythm, and adaptability. Whether on the "tatami" or in life, Brazilian judokas exemplify this fluidity. Over the years, Brazilian judo has produced legendary figures who have inspired generations. Names like Aurélio Miguel, the first Brazilian judoka to win an Olympic gold medal in 1988, and Sarah Menezes, who became the first Brazilian woman to claim Olympic gold in 2012, are etched in history. Other notable athletes, such as Rafaela Silva and Mayra Aguiar, have continued to bring pride to the nation with their remarkable performances. For many, judo in Brazil is more than a competitive discipline—it is a way of life. The sport provides opportunities for social inclusion, especially in underprivileged communities where young athletes find hope and purpose through training. Many Brazilian judokas emerge from modest backgrounds, proving that talent, combined with relentless effort and the right opportunities, can lead to greatness. By V. Messana  18-year-old and making history. Brazilian tennis player, João Fonseca is currently ranked 145th in the world. The young talent stands out as one of the most promising young players in the world of tennis.
“It’s incredible how much I’ve improved physically and mentally,I’ve been very strong mentally, winning matches against Top 50 and Top 20 players. I’m proud of myself, but of course, I want more. My dream is to become number 1.” – Joao Fonseca Born in Rio de Janeiro in 2006, Fonseca had a remarkable junior career before turning professional. He started playing tennis relatively late, at age 11, after switching from futsal, which he quit due to an injury. From an early age, he showed talent in various sports, including soccer, swimming, and judo, but it was in tennis that he found his true passion. Despite his late start, Fonseca quickly made a name for himself in tennis. In 2022, he was a key player for the Brazilian team that won the Junior Davis Cup, showcasing his potential in international competitions. In 2023, he reached the top of the junior world rankings, becoming the first Brazilian to finish a season as world number 1. In addition to his US Open Junior title, Fonseca was the Australian Open doubles runner-up and reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, further solidifying his reputation in junior tennis. The number of sponsors Fonseca has attracted at such a young age reflects not only his athletic potential but also his ability to engage brands and expand tennis’s popularity in Brazil. “Fonseca is bringing back the pride of cheering for Brazil on the tennis courts.” - Ivan Martinho, a sports marketing professor at ESPM Joao is now fully focused on his professional career. He has already started competing in ATP tournaments and is receiving international attention for his performances. This last month during the Australian Open, the player called the attention of many tennis fans when winning from the world 9th, Andrey Rublev, and proceeded to the second round of the event. With talent, determination, and a winning mindset, Fonseca has everything it takes to become one of the biggest names in world tennis and truly represent the essence of Brazil out there. |
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