Brazilian athletes sacrifice Paris 2024 Olympic dreams to aid flood victims

Brazilian athletes from Rio Grande do Sul sacrifice Olympic dreams to aid flood victims

With less than three months until the Olympic Games in Paris, Brazilian athletes from the flood-ravaged state of Rio Grande do Sul are putting their dreams on hold to help with rescue efforts in their community.

Rowers Evaldo Becker and Piedro Tuchtenhagen, who were set to compete in the lightweight double sculls category, have decided to forgo their Olympic aspirations and instead assist in saving stranded neighbors, providing shelter, and distributing aid.

Their training was disrupted by severe floods that hit the state capital, Porto Alegre, after the river Guaiba overflowed. Despite the setback, the athletes have chosen to prioritize the needs of their community over their own sporting pursuits.

Swimmer Viviane Jungblut, who had already qualified for the open water race, also made the decision to withdraw from the Olympics in order to focus on rescue and recovery operations.

World and Olympic surfing champion Italo Ferreira and the coach of the Brazil Olympic men’s judo team, Antonio Carlos Kiko Pereira, have also joined in the rescue efforts in Rio Grande do Sul.

The athletes, along with former Olympic competitors like gymnast Daiane dos Santos and swimmer Nicholas Santos, have stayed in the state to help despite the Brazilian Olympic Committee’s plan to evacuate them for training elsewhere in Brazil.

The devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul have claimed the lives of 113 people, with 146 still missing and over 300,000 displaced from their homes. As the region faces the threat of more rain and potential flooding, the selfless actions of these athletes serve as a beacon of hope and solidarity in a time of crisis.