Canoe medalist lost one of his organs 2 decades ago at age 10; nephrologist highlights additional care athlete should take
Since he was a child, Isaquias Queiroz, 30, has gathered evidence that he was not born for fun. The Bahian from Ubaitaba has overcome countless difficulties since the beginning of his life. One of the biggest happened to him at the age of 10, when he climbed a tree to check on a dead snake, fell backwards on a rock and injured his kidney, which had to be removed.
However, one less kidney did not prevent Isaquias from becoming the first Brazilian Olympic canoe champion, holder of four Olympic medals, also obtaining the title of the first Brazilian to win three medals in a single edition of the Games, in Rio-2016.
Next Friday (26), she will once again make history by representing Brazil at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, parading along the Seine as flag bearer alongside rugby’s Raquel Kochhann.
In conversation with the Earth you, The canoeist says that despite the adversities he faced on his journey, being without a kidney for two decades is far from the biggest challenge of his life.
“It is not possible to define a [desafio] or another, the important thing is that I always try to beat them, I think the biggest challenge is to overcome my limits, for me this will always be the most challenging”
Isaquias Queiroz, Olympic canoe medalist
Special diet
Closely followed by the coach of the Brazilian Olympic canoe team, Lauro de Souza Junior, the athlete explains how he deals with the pressure of competing at a high level, especially when he has high expectations for the country.
“I go into the water to compete and overcome my own challenges, there is no point in having butterflies in your stomach during the race if you are lazy in training, when you train well and do your homework, in the race it is only the finalization the result we have obtained”, underlines Isaquias.
The athlete also reveals a “special” diet that helps him prepare for tests during competitions: “The nutrition is always homemade by my wife, this is the best nutrition an athlete can have.”
The Bahian had already revealed in interviews that Paris would be his last participation as an athlete in the Olympic Games, but plans have changed and Isaquias still aims to compete in the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, in 2028.
“After the Olympics I will take a break, enjoy my family more, travel and then prepare for the next Olympic cycle,” he promises.
Athletes need additional care
Nephrologist and president of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology, José A. Moura Neto, assures that with a little care it is possible to have a relatively normal life with only one kidney. However, athletes must take some additional precautions.
“Stay hydrated, avoid the use of potentially nephrotoxic drugs and protein supplements, which can overload the kidney, as well as maintain healthy lifestyle habits,” explains the doctor to You earth.
Among the preventive treatments that athletes with only one kidney should follow to maintain long-term kidney health, the specialist highlights:
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle;
- Balanced diet;
- Avoid excess protein and high salt intake;
- Stay hydrated;
- Avoid the use of nephrotoxic drugs;
- Avoid using supplements without your doctor’s advice, as many of them can be harmful to your kidneys;
- Check and monitor risk factors such as obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, and blood pressure.
Simple and inexpensive tests, such as urine tests and blood creatinine tests, are widely available in Brazil – including in the public network – and can assess the presence of kidney damage and kidney function.
“There are no supplements that can benefit athletes with only one kidney, but dietary modifications can be helpful for these patients. Supplements should be discussed with a doctor, as they can be detrimental to kidney function,” the doctor advises.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
