Phelipe Rodrigues of Pernambuco is the Brazilian athlete called up for the Paris-2024 Paralympics with the most medals in the history of the competition. Among the 254 athletes with disabilities who will compete in the French capital, the S10 class swimmer (physical-motor limitations) is the only one to have achieved eight Paralympic podiums in his career.
Born in Recife, Phelipe has won at least one medal in each of the four editions of the Games he has participated in, from Beijing 2008 to Tokyo 2020. A specialist in the freestyle sprint races (50 and 100 meters), he has five silvers and three bronzes on his resume.
The swimmer’s first two medals at the Paralympic Games were silver, in Beijing 2008. The third and fourth, also silver, came in London 2012. But it was in Rio 2016 that Phelipe Rodrigues climbed the competition’s podium the most: he won one silver and two bronzes.
Finally, at Tokyo 2020, the Pernambuco native won another bronze, clocking 23.50, 0.29 behind gold medalist Rowan Crothers (23.21), from Australia. Ukrainian Maksym Krypak, with 23s33, won silver in that event.
“Being the Brazilian athlete with the most medals at Paris-2024 makes me believe that all the efforts of the last few years have been worth it. Also, looking back and seeing my trajectory, I am extremely happy to be able to contribute to our country in the best way possible.” Said Phelipe, who was born with a crooked right foot and, after some corrective surgeries, as a form of rehabilitation, began taking swimming lessons.
Crowned career
In 2023, the swimmer from Pernambuco concluded the Parapan American Games with five medals, four golds and one bronze. With the podiums in Santiago, the S10 class athlete left an important legacy to future generations. This is a significant number of 50 medals won in international competitions, such as World Cups, Paralympic Games and Parapans.
“Be part [do Movimento Paralímpico] and also seeing the growth of all the athletes of the Brazilian delegation in all these years gives me confidence, because I see that our country is growing and will always improve”, he added.
Other multiple medalists at Paris-2024
Rio de Janeiro sprinter Felipe Gomes, in the T11 (blind) class, is the second Brazilian athlete called to Paris with the most medals at the Games. So far there have been six, two gold, three silver and one bronze.
Finally, with five Paralympic podiums in their career, the swimmers Tallison Glock (S6, physical-motor limitations) and Carol Santiago from Pernambuco (S12, visual impairment) are tied, as is the sprinter from Paraíba Petrúcio Ferreira (T47, arm amputee).
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Source: Terra
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