Sports
It's Never Too Late: Giovanna Sanches' Adult Swimming Journey
Discover how Giovanna Sanches overcame fears and challenges to become a passionate swimmer, inspiring everyone who thinks they're "too old."
Giovanna Sanches, founder of Mania de Castanha, shares her incredible swimming journey, which began at age 36. She confronted fear and overweight issues, proving it's possible to fall in love with the sport at any age. Learn her tips for persistence, progress, and the role of corporate support in sports.
In the latest episode of the Natação Stemma podcast, hosts Samir Barel and Wanderley Santos welcomed an inspiring guest: Giovanna Sanches. The founder of Mania de Castanha, Giovanna shared her remarkable journey, proving that it's never too late to fall in love with and excel in swimming, even starting in adulthood. Her story is a true "reality check" for those who doubt their own potential, and it also highlights the crucial role companies play in promoting sports.
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Giovanna's Journey of Overcoming Challenges
Giovanna's swimming story began at 36 years old, when she was looking for an activity to aid in her weight loss journey, having previously weighed over 100 kg. The beginning wasn't easy: "fear, apprehension, I doubted if I could do it," she recalls. In her first lesson, her instructor, Acácio, had to get into the pool with her.
Despite the initial difficulties, Giovanna emphasizes that being overweight never stopped her from pursuing sports. As part of a weight loss process, swimming became an ally. Progress was rapid: "Within four lessons, I could already swim 25 m," a result she attributes to personalized coaching. What started as a quest for cardio and weight loss quickly transformed into a passion, making swimming the sport she loves and practices most today, with the intention of continuing forever.
Swimming for Adults: Essential Tips
Professional Support and Consistency
For adults who don't have a swimming background, Giovanna highlights the importance of personal lessons, at least initially. This type of guidance helps in understanding basic concepts like strokes, kicks, and coordination. Giovanna's "big leap in development" occurred when she started swimming three times a week consistently, often still with her private coach.
Dealing with Discomfort
A crucial aspect of swimming is the ability to deal with discomfort. Giovanna emphasizes that the learning process is difficult, requires persistence, and that the athlete must learn to be calm in the water. She compares the beginning to a learning experience where "you will go through a difficult period." The idea is to sustain the discomfort until it becomes something comfortable and natural, a decision to make it work.
Competition as a Motivator
Participating in races was a great incentive for Giovanna. Events like Circuito Mares and Aquamundo pushed her to want more. Competition, whether against oneself or others, encourages stepping out of one's comfort zone. "Nothing like a scheduled race" to motivate, and "learning to suffer while swimming" is essential for those looking to shave time or push their limits.
Technical Aspects and Challenges of Swimming
Swimming is Technical and Democratic
Giovanna and the hosts agree that swimming is a highly technical sport, where technical evolution prevails over physique or body type. It's a democratic sport that welcomes diverse bodies and ages, like former Olympic athlete Isabel Guerra (Bel Guerra), one of Giovanna's inspirations. This means that, with proper training, everyone has the potential to perform.
Identifying Difficulties
Giovanna shares her main technical difficulty: the stroke finish. She explains that even when trying to correct it, her "natural way isn't that." The ability to identify one's own flaws and work on them is crucial for progress, especially for amateur athletes seeking performance.
Avoiding Bad Habits and Open Water Swimming
Any pattern change in an ingrained movement creates discomfort. Initially, the stroke might feel slower or less efficient, but it's a sign of correction. A good coach's support is vital to persist with the correction until the new movement becomes natural. Furthermore, open water swimming is a contact sport, requiring preparation for physical contact and the unpredictability of the environment.
Mania de Castanha: Supporting Sports and Nutrition
Corporate Philosophy
Giovanna Sanches believes that companies have an "obligation" to give back to society, and sports are a powerful way to do so. Mania de Castanha supports various sports initiatives and events, such as the São Paulo Marathon and Aquamundo, investing in health, discipline, and well-being. She sees this as a "feedback loop," where support generates recognition and results for the company.
Products for Athletes
Mania de Castanha is an e-commerce platform (maniadecastanha.com.br) offering over 1,000 items, including nut mixes, dried fruits, flours, and spices. Among the products most recommended for athletes, Giovanna highlights dried fruits (like apricots and dates) and nut mixes, which serve as excellent sources of natural energy, potentially even as alternatives to energy gels during races. The "nut mix" is their flagship product, ideal for a quick and nutritious snack.
Conclusion
Giovanna Sanches' journey is an inspiring reminder that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing passions. Her dedication to swimming and Mania de Castanha exemplifies how persistence, the right support, and embracing discomfort can lead to remarkable achievements, both in sports and business. Sports not only improve physical health but also mental well-being, teaching lessons of focus, discipline, and overcoming challenges that transcend pools and open water lanes. If you're looking for a new challenge, remember: it's never too late to start, evolve, and fall in love with a sport.
And for your healthy eating needs, don't forget to use the coupon code EXTREMA for a 10% discount on the Mania de Castanha website.
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