Thiago Braz da Silva, 22, a Brazilian athlete and current gold medalist and Olympic record holder in pole vault, is a hero and icon for Brazilians everywhere. His jaw dropping performance this Monday against French athlete Renaud Lavillenie, prior Olympic record holder in the sport, left a nation riveting with pride and disbelief. He beat Lavillenie and claimed the Olympic record by jumping a staggering 19 ft 91⁄4 in. In the arena, Thiago appears unbeatable. Outside, the Brazilian hero has also been tested with many different and apparently insurmountable obstacles from a very early age.
Abandoned by his parents at the tender age of two, Thiago spent days with a backpack on his shoulders awaiting their return.
"My parents argued a lot, I don't know the full story exactly. They were very young. I went to live with my grandparents (Maria do Carmo and Orlando) and also had support from my uncle, Fabiano, a retired athlete. During the moments of hardship, my father wasn't present, but my grandmother embraced me and taught me to forgive them. They're human and deserve my forgiveness. I have already forgiven them, and we talk, I know where they live so that I can help them."
The athlete made this statement on Tuesday in front of hundreds of journalists during a collective interview at 'Casa do Time Brasil.' His sure tone demonstrates that he has surpassed this great obstacle life presented to him as a child, while embracing the equilibrium and perseverance hardship has taught him.
Born in Marilia in São Paulo State, the birthplace of the first Brazilian olympic medalist in swimming, Tetsuo Okamoto, Thiago first took up the pole vault at 14 years old, the year of the Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro (2007). His talent and skill grew at the rate Usian Bolt finishes a race. In the blink of an eye, he reached the competitive level of athletes Joaquim Cruz and Maurren Maggi.
Our hero claims that he would not be where he is today without the support of his grandmother, Maria do Carmo, who he loves and respects greatly. For years, she has been his number one fan. She says she admits only a single outcome for her grandson's competitions - that he wins.
Thrilled after his victory at the end of the Monday night, at Engenhão, Thiago exalted and praised the role of his coach, the Ukrainian Vitaly Petrov, one of the most respected coaches in pole jumping, responsible for the preparation of renowned athletes like Yelena Isinbayeva, Fabiana Murer and Sergei Bubka, among others. "I have my father in heaven and he is my father on Earth" says Thiago.
Petrov, at the side of the Brazilian champion, exclaimed he was impressed when he first saw Thiago in action, in Brasília, 2009. The athlete was training for the Summer Youth Olympics, and Petrov convinced his colleagues that he should work with the boy. "I am in part a dad, a friend and a dictator. And he knows that," commented Petrov, smiling.
Thiago thanked the spectators who cheered him on at Engenhão, while also recognizing that the jeering of the audience distracted his competitor Lavillenie. "I maintained control, I didn't lose focus. I never imagined winning gold and was surprised by the outcome." The new icon of the national sport now wants to rest and try to manage the fame reflected in his social profiles. "Yesterday I had two thousand followers on Instagram. Now I have more than 48 thousand."
