Graduated in law since last year, the Olympic beach volleyball champion Bruno Schmidt, 36, decided to leave his career as an athlete to dedicate himself to his new profession. His retirement was announced this Sunday (22), in an interview with Esporte Espetacular, on TV Globo.
“It wasn’t from yesterday to today. It’s a decision I’ve been taking since I started to feel my performance drop”, he said.
“I no longer see myself as a high-performance athlete, playing the way I played back then. That hurts a lot, more than defeats, than pain. I don’t see myself as I did in 2016”, he explained.
Elected the best player on the World Tour twice consecutively and gold medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016, Schmidt became known for his impeccable technique. Today, a little older, he says he hasn’t achieved the results of years ago, which causes him frustration.
The athlete graduated in law from UVV (University of Vila Velha) in 2022. Since then, he has considered working as a lawyer. For this, he needs to pass the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) test, which will be held in February.
According to him, the decision to retire from volleyball came to contribute to the new path. Thus, Schmidt will have more time to study and prepare for the new cycle. “I like that, it’s what makes me wake up early the next day,” he says excitedly.
On Twitter, the official profile of the Brazilian Olympic Committee honored the former athlete. “Thank you, Bruno Schmidt! Our Olympic champion announces his departure from the courts, aged 36”, tweets.
The publication also recalls four gold medals won by him: the Rio Olympic Games, in 2016, the World Cup and the World Tour, both in 2015, and the South American Games in 2014.
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