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By S. Kupfer  Everyone does some sort of sport. Whether it’s running, basketball, or yoga, sports are as natural as breathing. This does not, however, mean people actually stop to think about them. You don’t usually stop to think about breathing, do you? The same can be applied to sports. What actually are they? What purpose do they serve? Are they simply an extracurricular activity to get you into a college? A way to burn calories, to stay skinny? After four intriguing interviews with our beloved House Masters and Windsor Prefect Talitha Belmonte, The Lion might just have the answer.
Are sports simply extracurricular? An additional aspect of school life? Our Windsor Prefect doesn’t exactly think so, “Sports are a very individual thing, they’re very unique,” she explains. Having done volley, basketball, swimming and so many others, Talitha must be right. Truly, no activity out there blends fun, talent, art, and achievement the way sports do. “I do yoga, pilates, cycling”, says Tudor House Master Mrs Goto- it seems as if Pauleans participate in quite a diverse range of physical activities, probably because sports in general have a way of being so independent, original; clearly, sports are their own special aspect, much more than an additional aspect of school life. Now that that’s been established, what is to be said about our houses? Pupils are sorted into a house immediately upon their entry to St. Paul’s, barely given a chance to stop and reflect: what values are they representing? “Passion. The Windsor House is very passionate,” answers Mr Feitosa. “Resilience. The Tudors have been taking part in many competitions, always participating”, was Mrs Goto’s answer. Clearly, their resilience is paying off with the astonishing number of victories they have. Finally, “for Stuart, it’s more of the point of never giving up, always trying”, states Mrs Stipp. Quite an impressive quality to have. With all this in mind, it is more than reasonable to assume that each of the houses at St. Paul’s is as authentic as they are exciting- just like sports! On the other hand, it would be unfair to write about the individuality of sports without mentioning the negatives. After all, nothing is without disadvantages. However, it seems as if here at St. Paul’s the downsides of sports are rarely apparent- likely because sports are so embedded into Paulean culture, that the disadvantages are tiny in comparison to the benefits. “I feel like there aren’t that many serious injuries here,” claims our Windsor Prefect, “and when there are, people always go back to their sport”. Pauleans returning to their sport right after suffering the pain and inconvenience of an injury serves to show how much sports are worth it. There may be risks, there may be nuisances, but the experience makes it so, so worth it. Although there is no definite answer to “what are sports?”, it is obvious that here at St. Paul’s, sports are as important as hydration and as exciting as the holidays. They are more than a mere extracurricular, more than a way to stay skinny. Sports represent determination, trust, and so much more- and this is why so many of our Pauleans love them so much.
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By A. Hemnani  Every country has their own unique traditions and celebrations. Many of which shape a nation and its community, one of Brazil’s most popular celebrations is Carnival. I am sure you have all heard of it, carnival is a 5-day celebration held annually, officially starting on the Friday afternoon before Ash Wednesday and running through to Shrove Tuesday (AKA pancake day). It takes place around 40-47 days before easter.
One of the key components of carnival is the Samba, which is both a dance and a musical tradition deeply tied to Brazil’s identity, with roots in Afro-Brazilian culture. It’s known for its fast-paced rhythm and athletic footwork. Samba relies on drums such as the atabaque, repique, pandeiro, and tamborim, creating its signature driving rhythm. A large way of showcasing samba is in the Samba school competitions, held in schools all over Brazil, but mainly in Rio. The samba school parades at Rio’s Carnival are structured like a championship: dozens of schools compete in the Sambadromo, each judged on music, costumes, floats, and choreography, with the winner crowned Carnival champion. These competitions are taken as seriously as sports tournaments, with communities training all year-round to secure victory. In 2026, the carnival champion was Unidos do Viradouro. In order for the samba to flow properly, hundreds of performers must move in perfect synchronisation, needing precise coordination. Parades last for hours, demanding physical endurance from all the dancers and drummers. And the amount of planning going into the dance is truly tremendous. Samba schools meticulously design choreography, music, and float sequences to maximise points. Samba is not the only aspect tied to the performance held in carnival; the decoration of the floats is a key aspect of the festivities. Over the years, many floats have been decorated as famous sports players and teams, demonstrating how important sports are in our country. In 1998, Vasco da Gama was honoured in a carnival float, and in 2003, the Tradição samba school featured a float with a giant statue of Ronaldo Nazário celebrating Brazil's 2002 World Cup victory. And in 2014, a float was created in honour of Flamengo legend Zico, presenting his story in a fairytale style. So even in our most artistic celebration, there will always be a hint of sports, as it is a crucial part of Brazil's legacy. By J. Frussa  When you think of most Olympic athletes, the first thing that comes to mind is probably images of swimmers and boxers. But have you ever thought of the samba dancers and speciality performers in Carnaval? Both showcase their skills, but in very different ways.
Most samba dancers train for hours on end, usually training for around 2-6 hours for three to six months before Carnaval. The training sessions mainly consist of dance rehearsals, physical conditioning, and parade rehearsals. All this training is extremely physically demanding, and lots of times the dancers must wear costumes that limit their movements, like heels. Olympic athletes, by contrast, commonly train year-round, with their training sessions usually consisting of 4-6 hours every day, for 5-6 days a week. Their training consists of skill and technique training tailored to their specific sport, cardio, strength and conditioning, recovery and nutrition, and mental preparation. One thing that differs from their training to the samba dancers is that the Olympic athletes almost always focus on mental health, which is extremely important because, as the stakes are higher, the athletes need to learn how to cope with anxiety and stress. While Samba dancers put in extreme effort before and during carnival, their training is mainly centered in months, as they start preparing for Carnaval months before, and usually train for 2-6 hours everyday for up to six months before Carnaval. On the other hand, most Olympic athletes train year-round, with sessions of 4-6 hours every day. Both sports are extremely physically demanding, but what contrasts them is the consistency of the preparation. In conclusion, both athletes train for hours on end for several days a week, and both push their bodies and minds to their limits in very different ways. Each is impressive in its own way, and deciding which is more challenging depends on how you weigh intensity, consistency, and the final payoff. By: T. Giannella  Every year, people take a break from their daily lives to celebrate Carnaval in Brazil. Though some might think the Carnaval is just about dance and samba, it's not; it is a mix of culture, art, and tradition. Samba also has a common misconception that it doesn’t require physical effort. However, samba dancers share many similarities with athletes, such as needing stamina, strength, and endurance. They train for months to perform perfectly, just like athletes.
Have you ever watched your favourite athlete win a game or a championship and celebrate? Well, if so, you must know that Carnaval is also a celebration. In Carnaval, we celebrate the pleasures people will give up during Lent. Samba dancers have quick and agile footwork, just like in football, you need to have agility and strength in order to score. They also need body control in order to stay synchronised with one another. Similar to figure skating, where having synchronised movements is key. Samba is not only a dance but also a competition. Samba schools compete and give it their all during Carnaval. Most spectators only see the fun and exciting part, but behind all that samba dancers and schools go through harsh and tiring training. Dancers train all year round just for Carnaval, and it is way more competitive than it seems. In the Winter Olympics 2026, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history by winning Brazil’s first medal in the Winter Olympics. Lucas wrote “vamos dançar” on the back of his helmet, which is another example of sports and celebration coming together. Now it has become a tradition, after every championship won, Lucas shows his charm by dancing to Brazilian songs. Lucas doesn’t believe in sports being serious all the time; he even said, “Let's just keep dancing and let's put on a show”. By: S. Kupfer  One very significant aspect of carnival is Capoeira. Characterized by acrobatic kicks, fluid sweeps and a ton of fun, Capoeira is deeply integrated into Brazilian culture and recognized as a unique blend of martial arts, dancing, music, and gymnastics. What most don’t realize, however, is the brutality from which it emerged from.
Capoeira started as a form of self-defense. Not art, not music, not fun, just pure self-defense. Following its criminalization in the 1890’s, capoeira was shunned and repressed. But hope was not lost. The Brazilian community continued to practice it. In the 1930’s it was legalized and, soon after, Brazil began to shape the sport, structuring it into something more joyful. In the typical Brazilian way of embedding art into everything, it wasn’t long before capoeira became its own craft. Today, capoeira is one of Brazil’s biggest achievements. A one-of-a-kind sport. During carnival, capoeira is performed all around, with thousands enjoying the show. Capoeira shows the significance of sport- it brings people together, it enhances cultural celebrations, and best of all, it can turn something violent into something beautiful.  By: N. Caputo At first glance, samba is usually seen as a form of expression rather than a sport. It is closely associated with Carnival, music, and cultural celebration. Because of this, many people argue that samba does not meet the traditional definition of a sport. They believe sports must involve clear rules, direct competition, and measurable outcomes such as goals or points. Since samba is artistic, it is often placed in the category of performance rather than athletic competition.
However, this perspective overlooks many aspects that samba shares with recognized sports. Samba schools compete against each other during Carnival, and their performances are carefully evaluated by judges using specific criterias including timing, synchronization, and overall execution. This system is very similar to judged sports, where athletes are scored based on performance quality such as gymnastics, figure skating and synchronized swimming which are taken seriously in the sport community. Samba is also known for its physical difficulties, further proving the argument that it is a sport. Sambistas train for months to develop stamina, flexibility, strength, and coordination. A samba performance is around 75 minutes, where these performers must maintain energy and accuracy with a smile on their faces. Which without a doubt, is physically exhausting, especially under challenging conditions like heat and the heavy costumes. Teamwork is another important factor. A samba school involves hundreds of performers who must work in synchrony. Every movement must align perfectly to achieve a successful performance. This level of coordination has shown to be even more difficult to other team sports. In conclusion, while samba may not fit the image of a traditional sport, it is known for their competitions, physical effort, and teamwork. Other performative sports have been recognized as official sports and take part of competitions such as the Olympics, so why not samba? In my opinion, samba should be taken seriously since it as much a sport as any other. |
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