Sports
João Maldonado: Challenges and Goals at IRONMAN 70.3 Brasília
The professional triathlete reflects on his debut and anticipates his performance in the federal capital.
In an exclusive interview with Fabio Bessa and Thiago Kawamura, professional triathlete João Maldonado shares the setbacks and lessons learned from his IRONMAN 70.3 Curitiba debut. He details the challenges in preparing for IRONMAN 70.3 Brasília and reveals his ambitious time goals for the race.
Hosts Fabio Bessa and Thiago Kawamura (Tiagão) welcomed professional triathlete João Maldonado directly from the Nubank Ultravioleta IRONMAN 70.3 Brasília 2026 coverage. In the conversation, Maldonado opened up about his professional circuit debut and the challenges faced in preparing for the Brasília stage.
PUBLICIDADE (GAM) — 1250x250
Professional Debut in Curitiba: A Learning Curve
Maldonado's first race as a professional was IRONMAN 70.3 Curitiba. He describes the start as "painful" and "very different from amateur racing," especially in the swim, where the initial intensity requires adaptation. "If you miss the boat, you'll be alone out there," Maldonado comments, emphasizing the importance of staying with the lead group. On the bike, an unexpected problem: his chain fell off, costing him precious minutes just as he was feeling strongest in the race.
Despite the setback, the debut was considered "cool," serving as a valuable learning experience for future competitions. He emphasizes the importance of identifying areas for improvement, such as the swim start strategy, to optimize performance.
Turbulent Preparation for Brasília
The seven-week cycle between Curitiba and Brasília was not easy for the triathlete. After a strong start to training, the last three weeks were marked by a series of unforeseen events. Maldonado suffered a shoulder injury, keeping him out of the water for two weeks. He then caught a severe flu, and as a complication, an ear infection that required antibiotic treatment. Although there was "some loss in conditioning," he feels better and confident for the Brasília race.
Goals and Strategies for IRONMAN 70.3 Brasília
For Brasília, João Maldonado aims to feel like he delivered a strong bike and a good run. In the swim, due to his shoulder injury, he will adopt a more conservative strategy. For cycling, with a bike change, the goal is ambitious: sub 2 hours or "low 2 hours." The triathlete is already familiar with Brasília's fast course, where in the past, even with a fractured nose and an inferior bike, he completed it in 2 hours and 10 minutes. In the run, the objective is to put together a better performance, aiming for times close to 1 hour and 15 or 1 hour and 16 minutes, surpassing his best of 1 hour and 20 minutes in Rio.
Quickfire Round: Athlete Curiosities
In a relaxed segment, João Maldonado revealed some curiosities:
- Music for training: Kanye West.
- Favorite superhero: Spider-Man.
- Soccer team: Fluminense.
- Post-race food: Pizza, especially with catupiry or sweet pizza.
- Longest ride: 200 km on the trainer.
- Childhood idol: Soccer idols, especially from Fluminense.
- Mom's scoldings: Daily, about being careful when cycling in Rio.
João Maldonado arrives in Brasília focused on delivering his best on race day, overcoming obstacles and seeking the personal satisfaction of a well-executed performance, regardless of the adversities faced in preparation. A true lesson in resilience and focus in high-performance sports.
PUBLICIDADE (GAM) — 1250x250
