João Muniz: Brazil's Next-Gen Trail Runner at 18
A three-time Brazilian skyrunning champion, he aims for international excellence and dreams of bringing Brazil to the world podium.
João Muniz, a young trail running prodigy, shares his journey from age 9, his transition from soccer, and his pursuit of elite-level results. With the support of his family and coach Manuel Lago, he's preparing for international races and inspiring his local community. His goals include World Championship podiums and potentially even an Olympics.
Stemma na Trilha welcomed João Muniz, one of the biggest names in the new generation of trail and mountain running in Brazil. At 18, João already boasts significant titles and represents the country in international competitions, demonstrating that a passion for trails can start early and lead to great achievements.
From Playtime to Running Commitment
Born and raised in Barra do Piraí, in the interior of Rio de Janeiro, João Muniz had his first contact with running at age 9. Inspired by his father and uncles, who already practiced and trained on trails on the family farm, he participated in a 5 km race in his city, completing it in under 30 minutes. This initial experience revealed his natural talent and competitive spirit.
Before dedicating himself to running, João had an active childhood, including swimming, Muay Thai, and especially soccer. He even played for Volta Redonda's youth academy until he was 14, but the incompatibility of morning training sessions with his studies led him to choose running. This decision marked the beginning of more serious and focused training in 2022, a year he hasn't stopped since. Although many trail athletes come from road running, João started directly in trail, and today he seeks speed and technique in track and road training to improve his overall performance.
Training, Studies, and Academic Aspirations
With the end of high school, João's time management became more flexible, allowing for an even greater dedication to training. His routine, under the guidance of Manuel Lago, one of Brazil's leading trail running coaches, includes not only running but also complementary activities such as cycling (to increase volume without impact) and strength training. João, who plans to study Sports Science, already shows great interest in the fundamentals of nutrition and training, and jokes with coach Manuel Lago about the 'whys' behind each type of workout.
Highlights and International Experience
João's career is filled with successes. He is a three-time Brazilian Skyrunning champion and took first place in the Brazilian U20 Trail and Mountain Running Championship. He represented Brazil in three Skyrunning World Championships (Andorra, Italy, and Montenegro) and at the Canfranc World Championship, where he finished 54th. In one of his most challenging races, the South American Championship in Villa de Merlo, Argentina, he secured a respectable fourth place, one of the best races of his career.
The international experience was a 'reality check,' as João himself put it. He noticed the difference in level and the cultural encouragement European athletes have for trail running, but this served as motivation. Inspired by names like Fernanda Maciel and Johnny Lima, João believes that with great effort and dedication, it's possible to reach the level of the world's best.
Motivation and Future Vision
Ambition is João Muniz's main driving force. He constantly seeks to improve, aiming one day to be among the global elite athletes, competing in races like the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) and seeking a podium finish at World Championships. The Olympic dream, even though trail running is not yet an Olympic sport, is also part of his plans. "If one day it goes to the Olympics, I have to be ready," he states.
Beyond performance, João is motivated by the possibility of inspiring others, especially young people in his community. Proof of this was the recognition from a local priest, who followed his results and training, demonstrating the positive impact the athlete has on his surroundings. Balancing the life of a high-performance athlete with social life is a challenge he approaches with maturity, avoiding complete isolation to maintain mental health.
Regarding the future of trail running in Brazil, João is optimistic. He believes the sport is growing and that, over time, it will attract more and more young talents. "It's a matter of time; it will grow alongside the sport," he predicts.
Support and Next Steps
João Muniz relies on the support of various brands and programs that propel him forward. These include Smurfit Westrock, which included him in their La Mission project for sports promotion, Manuel Lago (his coach since age 9), the Laboratório de Performance Humana (LPH), which has supported him since early on and where he broke a VO2 max record, Mom Bora (natural supplements), and CKD (an English course), essential for his international projection. He is also a beneficiary of the Bolsa Atleta do Rio, a government program. His next challenge is La Mission, and after this race, he plans to focus more on road and track training to improve his speed and perhaps participate in the Brazilian Cross Country Championship.
With the ambition of becoming one of the best in the world and the dream of running the UTMB, João Muniz is a promising name to watch in the trail running scene.
At one of his World Championships in Andorra, João recalled a funny moment when, trying to offer peanuts to a foreign colleague, he used the word "nuts," unaware that, in another context, it could have an unexpected double meaning. A blunder that led to good laughs and an English lesson.