Sports
Miguel Morone: From Amateur Champion to Rio Marathon Elite
Discover the challenges and passion behind Miguel Morone's debut in the elite category of the Rio Marathon.
Miguel Morone, three-time amateur champion of the Rio Marathon, shares the inside story of his decision to compete in the elite. He details his intense preparation, expectations, and the challenging dynamic of running among professionals. It's a journey of overcoming obstacles and passion for the sport.
During the live broadcast of the Rio Marathon from the Stemma Sports studio, athlete Miguel Morone, three-time overall amateur champion, shared his expectations and the journey that led him to debut in the elite category. In a relaxed conversation, Morone, a well-known figure in the Rio scene, revealed the challenges and motivation behind this significant transition.
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The Transition from Amateur to Elite
Miguel Morone explained that the move to the elite was motivated by a constant pursuit of self-improvement. “We always strive for the best,” he states. His journey began in triathlon at age 30, evolving into running with the goal of winning podiums and the “medal mandala” in the amateur category. After becoming the three-time overall amateur champion of the Rio Marathon, he felt it was time to take the next step.
To enter the elite, a marathon time under 2 hours and 20 minutes was required, a mark he had already achieved in 2023. However, Morone preferred to gain more experience, better understand the sport, and absorb the maturity of idols like Altobeli and Giovani dos Santos – who recently achieved a brilliant feat with 2 hours and 12 minutes at the Porto Alegre Marathon. The dynamic of the elite, he emphasizes, is a true “war” where everyone wants to win, leaving no room to relax, as might happen in the amateur pack.
Morone highlights that, although he competes with the elite, his main profession is Lieutenant Colonel of the Rio de Janeiro State Fire Department. He does not consider himself a professional athlete who lives exclusively from sports, but rather “a professional who is a firefighter, an athlete.” This distinction makes him admire even more the passion and dedication of athletes who make sports their livelihood.
Impeccable Preparation and New Strategy
Miguel Morone's preparation for the Rio Marathon was described as “impeccable.” After an injury at the New York Marathon, he dedicated 35 days to recovery. He then embarked on a 20-week training cycle, which included the Tokyo Marathon as part of his journey to complete the majors' mandala. The Tokyo race served as a mid-cycle event for the Rio Marathon, with no complications or injuries.
Initially, the expectation was to fight for positions in the top 5-7. However, the news of more African athletes participating in the competition caused his strategy to change. Morone's new focus is to seek his personal record (PR) in the Rio Marathon, aiming for a time under 2 hours and 21 minutes. “If someone stops in front, we’ll pass them,” he jokes.
The Power of the Carioca Crowd
A significant advantage for Miguel Morone at the Rio Marathon is the support of the local crowd. Running at home, in his “backyard,” is an immense motivational factor. He describes the experience of being “carried to the finish line” by the public's energy, even without being able to interact directly with people. The presence of his family – wife, son, and mother – along the course intensifies this connection.
The strength of the Rio crowd is so great that Morone jokes about his reputation for being “unbeatable” at home. He recounts an anecdote with athlete Jamal, who reportedly avoided the Rio Marathon due to the difficulty of beating Morone on his home turf. “In Rio de Janeiro, there’s no messing with you. It’s him,” Jamal is said to have remarked.
The trajectory of Miguel Morone is a testament to passion and dedication to the sport. His transition to the elite of the Rio Marathon is not just about performance, but about inspiring and demonstrating the power of continuous effort. Like Stemma Sports, Morone seeks to elevate the level of the sport and bring more people into this “bubble of good,” imparting knowledge and responsibility.
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