Maria Paula Giacomelli
Before July 2024, Bia Souza led a normal athlete’s life in Brazil, with all the difficulties and resilience common to national sportsmen are subjects (except those of the millionaire world of football). However, in two weeks, during the Paris Olympics, the 26 -year -old judoka became a celebrity in the country.
Nowadays, a trip to a restaurant with her husband is already a challenge: those who cross with her want a photo to show that she found the first athlete to win a gold medal for Brazil at the Games, played in the French capital.
In the first Olympics he played, Bia got something that several athletes with years of career crave: to be embraced by the Brazilian fans. Much more than winning the medal, she thrilled the social networks when she was teaching, to the weeping, with her family, right after the dispute and thanking her parents and grandmother, killed a month earlier.
“Within the sports world, they were waiting for me to bring a result, but for the rest of Brazil it was a big surprise. A lot of people identified with the struggles and overcoming of an athlete’s life and also felt accomplished with the achievement. This brought a magic,” he says in an interview with F5.
Interview this mark and timed time in the full agenda of the heart of heart. On this woman’s day, the athlete, who has become an inspiration for girls and women, especially those who run away from the standard (had for years as the “athlete’s body”) talks about post-device popularity, boundaries, challenges and personal life. Check out excerpts from the interview below.
More than the gold medal, you have won the respect and admiration of Brazilians after the Olympics. Why do you think your achievement was so celebrated?
I believe that by the way it impacted people. Everyone I find on the street always says ‘we needed this gold a lot, you brought a lot of joy.’ There was the Tokyo games in 2021, but it was a very difficult time. Everyone was rebuilding and recovering from the pandemic and thousands of deaths. People vibrating and cheering was something that made this edition more special.
Today, eight months after the games, you have almost 3 million followers on Instagram. Even sharing the training routine, awards and physical performance, do you receive comments out of mind?
For sure. The people are never happy. Always someone finds some imaginary reason to complain, but I’m a very quiet person about it. I don’t care about others’ opinions, even more an offensive opinion that I didn’t ask for.
What it does? Answer, go out?
I delete, I don’t think you need to have that kind of thing there. I always take a look to see if you have one more. If you have, I delete too.
Even with your trophies and career numbers, do you believe that comments disregarding your achievements are motivated by racism and fatophobia?
Some people think I’m not able, but I think that for one person to get to the point of offending the other in this way, he speaks much more of her than me. So I don’t need to carry other people’s frustrations in my life.
Have you ever sued the owner of any of these profiles?
No, if I can release it to the fullest, relief. But if you need it, I will. I always say that I face the challenges and prejudiced people always shining, always showing my success, going in the competition and winning, dedicating myself more and more in training. I will remain focused on my career and win more and more medals.
When was it offended as a child acted with this tranquility or react?
Before the judo I was warmer, but after I started practicing the sport, I calmed down. I said, ‘Okay, I will grow up and I will show my talent for all these people.’ But I argued and fought.
What was your most suffered fight outside the mat?
What caught me most was my grandmother’s death, a month before going to Paris. It was something that I became 30 ‘to be able to overcome in such a fast time and remain focused on the Olympics. There was no way to abandon the boat there in the face of the goal, it was very difficult.
Many athletes have been pronounced on unpleasant situations that bordered harassment, but they only realized after years. Do you who fight since I was a young age has gone through something similar?
No, the sport itself has a great discipline, a great respect. Judo is a very old sport. Respect with each other has always been one of the great priorities and essences.
Recently, you took the lead the ranking of the International Judo Federation in the category above 78kg. After winning an Olympic gold, if you charge more to win?
No, I’m very quiet about it. I always covered myself in relation to my delivery, to be really 100% present in the moments. I charge myself more about the process, the way I live the process, than in having results.
You seem to be well centered, even in the midst of constant pressures in the life of an athlete.
I have been therapy for about five years.
Did you have the initiative to seek a therapist?
Yes. There are problems that are beyond our understanding. I’m going there, outburst, and my psychologist says a word and already solves the whole problem. We need to accept, seek help, to understand that it is normal.
You have said that the preparation for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 have started since When the last games are over. Does this planning of professional life extends to plans in personal life?
No, I leave to live in a lighter way. I barely stay on my cell phone on weekends. As a couple, we have planning for the future post-nos Angeles. We want to have children, but it is in the long run, nothing we are counting on the days. We are living calmly and peacefully, without haste. Let the deadline be all timed within the mat.
Source: Folha
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
