Brazil at the Paralympics
Encyclopedia
Brazil
made its Paralympic Games
début at the 1972 Summer Paralympics
in Heidelberg
, sending representatives to compete in track and field
, archery, swimming and wheelchair basketball
. The country has competed in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then, but has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics.
Brazilians have won a total of 164 Paralympic medals, of which 46 gold, 55 silver and 63 bronze. This places the country 28th on the all-time Paralympic Games medal table
.
Brazil's first delegations experienced little success. No medals were won in 1972, and the country's only medal in 1976 was a silver, in the men's pairs in lawn bowls (through Robson S. Almeida and Luiz Carlos Costa). There were no medals either in 1980, but Brazilian Paralympians found notable success as from 1984, where they obtained their first gold: M. Ferraz won five silver medals and one gold in track and field; Marcia Malsar took three medals in running, of which one gold; Luis Claudio Pereira won four medals, of which two gold, in track and field; as did Amintas Piedade. Swimmer Maria Jussara Matas obtained three medals, of which one gold, while Marcelo Amorim won four medals (three swimming and a bronze), also in swimming.
Pereira won three of Brazil's four gold medals in 1988, the fourth coming from swimmer Graciana Moreira Alves. In 1992, three Brazilian athletes each won a gold medal in track and field, while the country's two gold in 1996 were won in swimming (Jose Arnulfo Medeiros) and judo (Antonio Tenorio Da Silva). Da Silva took another gold in 2000, adding to Brazil's four gold in track and field and one in swimming that year. The 2004 Games saw the country's best result to date, with fourteen gold medals, of which five in athletics. Swimmer Clodoaldo Silva
became Brazil's most successful Paralympian in history, winning six gold medals in the pool, and Brazil also won the men's football 5-a-side competition, defeating Argentina in a penalty shoot-out in the final. (In the 7-a-side event, Brazil finished second, after a 1-4 defeat to Ukraine.) In 2008, athletics provided another four gold medals, boccia
two, judo one, and swimming eight (four each from Daniel Dias
and Andre Brasil
). In football, Brazil finished fourth in the 7-a-side event, with losses to Ukraine (0-6) and Iran (0-4) in the final round. The country did, however, successfully defend its Paralympic title in 5-a-side football, defeating China 2-1 in the final.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
made its Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
début at the 1972 Summer Paralympics
1972 Summer Paralympics
The 1972 Summer Paralympics, the fourth edition of the Paralympic Games, were held in Heidelberg, West Germany, from August 2 to 11, 1972.- Sports :As with previous Paralympics, the 1972 games were intended for wheelchair athletes only...
in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, sending representatives to compete in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, archery, swimming and wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs and is considered one of the major disabled sports practiced. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole...
. The country has competed in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then, but has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics.
Brazilians have won a total of 164 Paralympic medals, of which 46 gold, 55 silver and 63 bronze. This places the country 28th on the all-time Paralympic Games medal table
All-time Paralympic Games medal table
An all-time medal table for all Paralympic Games from 1960 to 2008 Summer Paralympic Games and 1976 to 2010 Winter Paralympic Games is tabulated below....
.
Brazil's first delegations experienced little success. No medals were won in 1972, and the country's only medal in 1976 was a silver, in the men's pairs in lawn bowls (through Robson S. Almeida and Luiz Carlos Costa). There were no medals either in 1980, but Brazilian Paralympians found notable success as from 1984, where they obtained their first gold: M. Ferraz won five silver medals and one gold in track and field; Marcia Malsar took three medals in running, of which one gold; Luis Claudio Pereira won four medals, of which two gold, in track and field; as did Amintas Piedade. Swimmer Maria Jussara Matas obtained three medals, of which one gold, while Marcelo Amorim won four medals (three swimming and a bronze), also in swimming.
Pereira won three of Brazil's four gold medals in 1988, the fourth coming from swimmer Graciana Moreira Alves. In 1992, three Brazilian athletes each won a gold medal in track and field, while the country's two gold in 1996 were won in swimming (Jose Arnulfo Medeiros) and judo (Antonio Tenorio Da Silva). Da Silva took another gold in 2000, adding to Brazil's four gold in track and field and one in swimming that year. The 2004 Games saw the country's best result to date, with fourteen gold medals, of which five in athletics. Swimmer Clodoaldo Silva
Clodoaldo Silva
Clodoaldo Silva is a Brazilian swimmer.Silva competed at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, winning three silver medals and one bronze. He competed again at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, where he set four world records, five Paralympic records, and won six gold medals and one silver...
became Brazil's most successful Paralympian in history, winning six gold medals in the pool, and Brazil also won the men's football 5-a-side competition, defeating Argentina in a penalty shoot-out in the final. (In the 7-a-side event, Brazil finished second, after a 1-4 defeat to Ukraine.) In 2008, athletics provided another four gold medals, boccia
Boccia
Boccia is a traditional recreational sport, similar to bocce. The name Boccia is derived from the Latin word for boss – bottia. The sport is competed at national and international level, by athletes who require a wheelchair because of physical disability...
two, judo one, and swimming eight (four each from Daniel Dias
Daniel Dias
Daniel de Faria Dias is a Brazilian swimmer.He has Laureus Award for Sportsperson with a Disability of the Year, winning in 2009....
and Andre Brasil
Andre Brasil
Andre Brasil is a swimmer who won gold for Brazil at the 2008 Summer Paralympics. He also broke a Paralympic record. He had poliomyelitis as a child.- References :...
). In football, Brazil finished fourth in the 7-a-side event, with losses to Ukraine (0-6) and Iran (0-4) in the final round. The country did, however, successfully defend its Paralympic title in 5-a-side football, defeating China 2-1 in the final.