Robert Scheidt
Encyclopedia
Robert Scheidt (born April 15, 1973) is a renowned Brazil
ian sailor, having won two gold medals and two silver medals from four Olympic Games. He is one of the most successful sailors at Olympic Games and one of the most successful Brazilian Olympic athletes.
, his father gave him his first boat at the age of 9 and began practising in the Guarapiranga dam. With the help of Dudu Melchert, his coach, he began winning several competitions.
At the age of 11, Scheidt became the South American Champion in the Optimist Class
, in Algorrobo, Chile, in 1985 and again in 1986. Because of his wins, he was chosen to represent Brazil in the Optimist World Championship in 1986. This fact was the turning point of his career and made him decide to quit tennis and focus on sailing.
Because his weight and height exceeded the Optimist recommendations, he began sailing in the Snipe Class
and became three times Brazilian junior champion. In 1990, he began sailing in the Laser dinghy and became Brazilian junior champion and was called to represent Brazil in the Junior World Championships, held in Netherlands
. In this championship, he realized he had what it took to be a great athlete and trained in Denmark
and Sweden
and participated for the first time in the Kiel Week
(Kieler Woche).
In 1991, he sailed a good and consistent regatta won 10 out of the 11 races and became Laser Junior World Champion, in Scotland
.
in Mar del Plata
, Argentina
and attracted the attention of the Brazilian Press, along with his first World Title, in Tenerife
, Spain
. In the following year, he graduated at the Mackenzie Presbyterian University
in Business Administration.
In this year, 1996, his greatest achievement: the Olympic Gold Medal in Atlanta, in the Laser Class. He also won in 1996 the World Championship, held in Cape Town
, South Africa
and again in 1997, in Algarrobo
, Chile
.
In 1999, he won the Gold Medal in the Pan American Games, in Winnipeg
, Canada
on Lake Winnipeg
, ahead of Mark Mendelblatt
of the U.S. and Diego Romero
of Argentina. In 2000, after his fourth World Title, in Cancún
, Mexico
, he was the favorite to win gold in the Olympic Games, in Sydney
. But along with the rest of the Brazilian delegation, he failed to win the medal and, after an amazing and controversial battle with Ben Ainslie
, from Great Britain
, he took home the Silver Medal.
His fifth world title came in 2001, in Cork
, Ireland
and his sixth in 2002, in Cape Cod
, United States
.
In 2003, he became for the third time Pan American Games Champion, with the gold in Santo Domingo
, Dominican Republic
. In 2004, he won the Gold Medal in Athens
and won his 6th World Title in Bitez
, Turkey
, ahead of Mark Mendelblatt.
In March 2005, he was ranked 1st in the world in the Laser, ahead of Paul Goodison
of Great Britain, Michael Blackburn
of Australia, and Mark Mendelblatt of the U.S. His last World Title came in 2005, when he was proclaimed champion in his birth country for the first time, in Fortaleza
, Brazil
.
After this win, he decided to leave the Laser class and to focus in the two-person racing keelboat
Star Class
, along with Bruno Prada
. In June 2006, he and Prada won the silver medal at the 2006 Kiel Week in Germany, behind Mark Mendelblatt and crewman Mark Strube. In August 2006, he and Prada won a silver medal at the Star European Championship against 93 boats in Neustadt
, Germany, again behind Mendelblatt and Strube.
He won nine titles since 2003, including the World Title in 2007, in Portugal
and a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
. With this podium he also became the first Brazilian athlete to win a medal in four consecutive Olympic Games. His four medals put him, along with swimmer Gustavo Borges
, behind only behind sailor Torben Grael
as the Brazilian with most Olympic medals. He was appointed as the Brazilian flag bearer
at the Beijing Olympic Games.
, Lithuania
. They have one son.
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...
ian sailor, having won two gold medals and two silver medals from four Olympic Games. He is one of the most successful sailors at Olympic Games and one of the most successful Brazilian Olympic athletes.
Early career
Born in São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, his father gave him his first boat at the age of 9 and began practising in the Guarapiranga dam. With the help of Dudu Melchert, his coach, he began winning several competitions.
At the age of 11, Scheidt became the South American Champion in the Optimist Class
Optimist (dinghy)
The Optimist is a small, single-handed sailing dinghy intended for use by children up to the age of 15. Nowadays boats are usually made of fiber reinforced plastic, although wooden boats are still built....
, in Algorrobo, Chile, in 1985 and again in 1986. Because of his wins, he was chosen to represent Brazil in the Optimist World Championship in 1986. This fact was the turning point of his career and made him decide to quit tennis and focus on sailing.
Because his weight and height exceeded the Optimist recommendations, he began sailing in the Snipe Class
Snipe (dinghy)
The Snipe is a foot, 2 person, one design racing dinghy. Designed by William Crosby in 1931, it has evolved into a modern, tactical racing dinghy with fleets around the world. The Snipe is simple, making it easy to sail and trailer. The boat is recognized by the International Sailing Federation as...
and became three times Brazilian junior champion. In 1990, he began sailing in the Laser dinghy and became Brazilian junior champion and was called to represent Brazil in the Junior World Championships, held in Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In this championship, he realized he had what it took to be a great athlete and trained in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and participated for the first time in the Kiel Week
Kiel Week
Kiel Week is an annual sailing event in Kiel, Germany. It is the largest sailing event in the world, and also one of the largest Volksfest in Europe.- Procedure :...
(Kieler Woche).
In 1991, he sailed a good and consistent regatta won 10 out of the 11 races and became Laser Junior World Champion, in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Senior career
In 1995, he won gold in the Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and attracted the attention of the Brazilian Press, along with his first World Title, in Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In the following year, he graduated at the Mackenzie Presbyterian University
Mackenzie Presbyterian University
Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie is a private university in São Paulo, Brazil.Founded in 1870 as the American School, Mackenzie is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Brazil...
in Business Administration.
In this year, 1996, his greatest achievement: the Olympic Gold Medal in Atlanta, in the Laser Class. He also won in 1996 the World Championship, held in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and again in 1997, in Algarrobo
Algarrobo
Algarrobo may refer to:* The European carob tree * South American trees of the genus Prosopis* On Cuba, the Albizia saman tree * Algarrobo, Chile, a city in Chile* Algarrobo, Magdalena a town in Colombia...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
In 1999, he won the Gold Medal in the Pan American Games, in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large, lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, with its southern tip about north of the city of Winnipeg...
, ahead of Mark Mendelblatt
Mark Mendelblatt
Mark Mendelblatt is an American yachtsman. He primarily sails the Laser, a one-design class of small single-handed sailing dinghy...
of the U.S. and Diego Romero
Diego Romero (sailor)
Diego Emilio Romero Paschetta is an Argentine-Italian sailor.He earned a bronze medal in Laser at the 1999 Pan American Games on Lake Winnipeg, behind Brazil's Robert Scheidt and Mark Mendelblatt of the United States.Romero competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics for Argentina...
of Argentina. In 2000, after his fourth World Title, in Cancún
Cancún
Cancún is a city of international tourism development certified by the UNWTO . Located on the northeast coast of Quintana Roo in southern Mexico, more than 1,700 km from Mexico City, the Project began operations in 1974 as Integrally Planned Center, a pioneer of FONATUR Cancún is a city of...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, he was the favorite to win gold in the Olympic Games, in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. But along with the rest of the Brazilian delegation, he failed to win the medal and, after an amazing and controversial battle with Ben Ainslie
Ben Ainslie
Charles Benedict Ainslie, CBE is an English sailor and three-times Olympic gold medalist. He started sailing at the age of 8 and first competed at the age of 10...
, from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, he took home the Silver Medal.
His fifth world title came in 2001, in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and his sixth in 2002, in Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 2003, he became for the third time Pan American Games Champion, with the gold in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. In 2004, he won the Gold Medal in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and won his 6th World Title in Bitez
Bitez
-Geography:Bitez is a town in Bodrum district of Muğla Province. It is situated in Bodrum Peninsula at . It is almost merged with Bodrum which is just east of Bitez. It is coastal town and a popular summer resort. The settled population is of Bitez is 7692 as of 2010...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, ahead of Mark Mendelblatt.
In March 2005, he was ranked 1st in the world in the Laser, ahead of Paul Goodison
Paul Goodison
Paul Martin Goodison MBE is an English sailor.In March 2005, he was ranked 2nd in the world in the Laser, behind Robert Scheidt of Brazil, and ahead of Michael Blackburn of Australia and Mark Mendelblatt of the United States.He won the gold medal in the Men's Laser class at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
of Great Britain, Michael Blackburn
Michael Blackburn
Michael Blackburn is an Australian Olympic medallist and sailor. He is well known for his crossing of Bass Strait in a Laser dinghy...
of Australia, and Mark Mendelblatt of the U.S. His last World Title came in 2005, when he was proclaimed champion in his birth country for the first time, in Fortaleza
Fortaleza
Fortaleza is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.5 million , Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil. It has an area of and one of the highest demographic densities in the country...
, Brazil
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...
.
After this win, he decided to leave the Laser class and to focus in the two-person racing keelboat
Keelboat
Keelboat has two distinct meanings related to two different types of boats: one a riverine cargo-capable working boat, and the other a classification for small- to mid-sized recreational sailing yachts.-Historical keel-boats:...
Star Class
Star (sailboat)
The International Star is a 6.9 m one-design racing keelboat for two people.The boat must weigh at least 671 kg with a maximum total sail area of 26.5 m . It is sloop-rigged, with a mainsail larger in proportional size than any other boat of its length...
, along with Bruno Prada
Bruno Prada
Bruno Prada is a Brazilian sailor.In June 2006, he and Brazilian Robert Scheidt won the silver medal in the two-person racing keelboat Star Class at the 2006 Kiel Week in Germany, behind American Mark Mendelblatt and crewman Mark Strube...
. In June 2006, he and Prada won the silver medal at the 2006 Kiel Week in Germany, behind Mark Mendelblatt and crewman Mark Strube. In August 2006, he and Prada won a silver medal at the Star European Championship against 93 boats in Neustadt
Neustadt
- Germany :* in Baden-Württemberg:** Titisee-Neustadt, a town in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald* in Bavaria:** Bad Neustadt an der Saale, the capital of the Rhön-Grabfeld district...
, Germany, again behind Mendelblatt and Strube.
He won nine titles since 2003, including the World Title in 2007, in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. With this podium he also became the first Brazilian athlete to win a medal in four consecutive Olympic Games. His four medals put him, along with swimmer Gustavo Borges
Gustavo Borges
Gustavo França Borges Gustavo França Borges Gustavo França Borges (born December 2, 1972 in Ribeirão Preto is a former international top swimmer from Brazil. He participated in four Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1992...
, behind only behind sailor Torben Grael
Torben Grael
Torben Schmidt Grael is one of the most well known Brazilian sailors, renowned in international competitions. A descendant of Danes, he was taken sailing by his grandfather at five years old on the sailboat Aileen, of the extinct 6 meter class, which was the boat used by the silver medal winning...
as the Brazilian with most Olympic medals. He was appointed as the Brazilian flag bearer
2008 Summer Olympics national flag bearers
During the Parade of Nations portion of the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, athletes from each country participating in the Olympics paraded in the arena, preceded by their flag...
at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Personal life
On October 25, 2008 he married a Lithuanian Olympic silver medal winner Gintarė Volungevičiūtė in the Town Hall of KaunasKaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. They have one son.
Main Titles
Robert Scheidt has already won 125 titles until May, 2006, including 68 in Brazil and 57 abroad. His main achievements are:- Star Class
- Silver in Beijing, 2008
- Laser Class
- Olympic Games:
- Gold in Atlanta, 1996 and in Athens, 2004
- Silver in Sydney, 2000
- World Championships:
- Tenerife, Spain, 1995
- Cape Town, South Africa, 1996
- Algarrobo, Chile, 1997
- Cancún, Mexico, 2000
- Cork, Ireland, 2001
- Cape Cod, USA, 2002
- Bitez, Turkey, 2004
- Fortaleza, Brazil, 2005
- World ISAF Games:
- Marseille, France, 1997
- World Junior Championship:
- Scotland, 1991
- Pan AMerican Games:
- Mar del Plata, Argentina, 1995
- Winnipeg, Canada, 1999
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2003
- Europe Cup:
- 1993, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005
- South American Championships:
- 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2004
- Brazilian Championships:
- 1987 (junior), 1991 (junior), 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
- Kiel Week:
- 1999, 2000, 2004
- Spa Week:
- 1998, 2002
- Olympic Games:
- Optimist Class:
- South American Championship (youth):
- 1985, 1986
- South American Championship (youth):
- Star Class:
- Pre-Olympic:
- 2006
- South American Championship:
- 2006
- Brazilian Championship:
- 2006
- World Championship:
- 2007
- Pre-Olympic: