Lais Souza: Overcoming Adversity and Resilience Beyond Olympic Gymnastics

The Transition to Aerial Skiing

After gymnastics, Lais sought new challenges. The Brazilian Snow Sports Confederation (CBDN) invited her to join the aerial skiing team. Her gymnastics background made her an ideal candidate for acrobatics in the air, performed after descending ramps at high speed. Adapting to the "icy world" was challenging. Lais describes aerial skiing as one of the sports that "causes the most fear," with adrenaline pumping and the need to learn how to fall from a height of up to 6 meters onto snow that, upon impact, "turns into concrete."

The Accident, Awareness, and Recovery

The accident that left her quadriplegic occurred in the United States, in Utah. Lais was not immediately informed about her condition; awareness was gradual. In the hospital, she realized she couldn't move or breathe on her own. Her small victories included asking for help to scratch her nose. A striking moment was when a doctor suggested she sing to come off the ventilator. Lais recounts that she managed to come off the machine by singing Ana Carolina's songs, which she considers one of her "greatest victories." Lais also participated in a stem cell study, which, although not promising a cure, helped with the recovery of edema and internal fibrosis, giving her motivation.

Challenges and Acceptance of a New Reality

Adapting to the new reality was a "huge package" of challenges. Dependency, the need for caregivers, and the routine of quadriplegia impacted her life and her family's, such as her mother, who left her job to support her. Lais faced issues of accessibility, the high costs of treatment, and the pursuit of inclusion. She reveals that she was ableist towards herself, judging herself for being in a wheelchair, but today understands that the chair is a support that helps her to "keep going."

The Importance of Therapy

Lais emphasizes the fundamental importance of therapy. For her, it's like "training the brain," giving it the same attention as one gives to the body. Therapy helped her to get to know herself, heal past wounds, and reframe experiences, transforming how she deals with difficulties. It's an essential process of self-knowledge for everyone, regardless of the challenges faced.

Reporting Abuse and Fighting It

In an act of ch courage, Lais publicly reported having suffered abuse by caregivers. She emphasizes that it took time to understand that it was abuse, just as it took time to recognize abuse suffered in childhood. Lais highlights the importance of talking about the issue to culturally combat abuse, especially against women and minorities. She criticizes victim-blaming and the lack of structural support for women who report and try to escape violent situations, often trapped by financial dependence and fear of the future.

New Passions: Art and Writing

During the pandemic, Lais discovered a new passion: painting. Self-taught, she paints with her mouth, using art as a tool for expression. Her works range from representations of wheelchair users to landscapes, showing her creative freedom. In addition to painting, Lais is writing a book in partnership with another woman with a disability, where she plans to share her most intimate feelings and experiences in detail.

Life as a Speaker and the Future

As a speaker, Lais inspires many women with her story of motivation and overcoming adversity. She recognizes that her presence in a wheelchair is already a testament to strength, but she seeks to convey that "there is life regardless of your condition." Lais focuses on living day by day, with clear goals like getting a new car and finishing her book. She recalls the emotion of carrying the Olympic torch in 2016, experiencing the warmth of the public and the honor of representing the country, even if from a new perspective.

Vanity and the "Athlete Mindset" in Daily Life

Lais has always been vain, and dealing with the changes in her body after the accident was a difficult process. However, she transformed this vanity into care and discipline, maintaining her "athlete mindset" at her core. Lais goes to the gym, does electrostimulation to gain muscle mass, and adapts her workouts, such as glute exercises, to prevent pressure sores, showing the importance of "giving movement to the body." Her routine is managed by a team of four caregivers, operating like a "small 24-hour company." Despite the constant need for support, Lais values her freedom and personal space, requesting privacy for moments like being with her boyfriend or family.

Lais Souza's trajectory is a true anthem to resilience and empowerment. Her ability to adapt, find new forms of expression, and fight for herself and others makes her an inspiration for all women seeking strength and purpose in their own journeys. Her story invites us to reflect on the importance of acceptance, self-knowledge, and the courage to use one's voice to transform the world around us.