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Gabrielzinho Araujo – Afp/Franck Fife
He had paraded along the Champs-Elysees with the Brazilian flag attached to the back of his electric tricycle, and had been applauded in the Place de la Concorde almost as if he were a hero, fisherman’s hat and long-sleeved tracksuit. Twenty-four hours later he showed himself to the world naked at the Défense Arena, where he confirmed that he deserves a place in the elite of world Paralympic swimming. The twenty-two-year-old Gabriel Geraldo Dos Santos Araujo won the 100 backstroke S2, demonstrating that even without arms and with short feet you can set a swimming pool ablaze. Born with phocomelia, a rare condition that causes shortening of the limbs, he began swimming when his physical education teacher signed him up for a school competition without him knowing. He dove in, won and hasn’t stopped since. In Tokyo he had won three golds and a silver, here he wants to put a poker of golds in the water. Meanwhile, in his backstroke race he enchanted the French public, when before the start he bit the rope with which the starter gave him the cue. He swam on his back using his shoulders, he touched the plate with his head, beating everyone. “I’m very happy, because before the race I was nervous, but then I felt comfortable swimming. This was the most difficult of my races in Paris, so winning gold is fantastic.” He speaks only Portuguese, but with the help of an interpreter he extends the message to everyone: “I want to tell those who saw me on TV to be focused and prepared, because if you prepare properly, anything can be achieved.” Neither an expectation, nor a surprise, for him the medals are a goal: “The goal of a Paralympic athlete is to beat your opponents.”
Speaking about his nomination as flag bearer, he speaks of an immense joy «because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be present at an opening ceremony, an honor for any athlete». In his homeland they call him Gabrielzinho: «There are great athletes in our team and I am happy to have had the opportunity to represent Brazil in the best possible way in the pool». Speaking about his mentality, he defines himself as a simple person at home and on the street, but a fighter in the water: «I am very competitive, so everything I do is to win. There is so much suffering in my training, so that is why I work so hard. I want to have fun and enjoy swimming because I love it». What is also striking is his authoritative attitude on the pool deck during the presentation of the finalists: «I hope my opponents fear my presence, because I show up to be the best». And as a good Brazilian, the first thing he did with the medal on his chest was dance: «We are a joyful people with dance in our DNA». In Tokyo he was unknown and it was a surprise, in Paris he has a lot of pressure on him and everyone is looking for him. Yet he doesn’t shy away from anyone: “I feel very prepared and I feel I have many supporters. I fought to be number one and I know the intensity with which my opponents are working to surpass me”. Today he returns to action in the 50 backstroke, then 150 medley, 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle, also competing in the S3 category, therefore with rivals with disabilities less impactful than his, because Gabrielzinho’s motto is simple: “Never give up on your dreams”.