Sports
Renato Ribeiro on Ethics & Rigor in Open Water Swimming
The coach pushes back against social media fads, discusses professional conduct, and recalls behind-the-scenes moments from major crossings.
In a quick Q&A on Natação Stemma, coach Renato Ribeiro highlighted seriousness as his primary coaching pillar. The leader of Equipe Navegantes addressed the importance of professional ethics, criticized superficial social media trends, and advocated for greater unity in Brazilian marathon swimming.
Wrapping up his appearance on Natação Stemma, coach Renato Ribeiro, head of Equipe Navegantes, took part in the show's rapid-fire question segment, opening up about his preferences, mentors, and approach on the shoreline. Delivering straightforward answers—naming the English Channel as his most unforgettable crossing, Fernando Possenti as a standout coach, and expressing an aversion to shark-prone routes—Renato chose seriousness as his greatest strength when guiding athletes through extreme endurance challenges.
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Quick-fire questions on the Quebra Recordes segment
During the segment hosted by Samir Barel and Wanderley Santos, Renato shared preferences built over more than two decades along pool decks and shorelines. The coach noted that he enjoys working in both environments, favors morning training sessions in crowded waters, and named fishing as his top pastime outside the sport. When asked what swimming represents in his journey, he summed it up in a single word: achievements.
Seriousness over influencer hype and athlete poaching
Detailing what seriousness means to him, Renato Ribeiro stressed that transparency and ethical commitment are non-negotiable in his day-to-day routine. In his view, the rise of superficial content and magical promises on social media creates unnecessary noise in athletic training, directly contrasting with the disciplined work of experienced coaches and swimmers building solid open-water careers.
Renato also emphasized mutual respect among open-water coaches, condemning the poaching of athletes at competitions and events. He noted that moving between coaching programs is a natural part of sports, provided it happens through open dialogue and a proper conclusion of the previous training cycle, preserving professional respect across the discipline.
Technical adjustments and a reality check before Capri-Naples
Illustrating how technical rigor ultimately protects the swimmer, Renato recalled an incident with athlete Pri Magalhães during preparation for the storied Capri-Naples ultramarathon. After watching a German swimmer win a 1,500-meter pool event with a specific catch-up stroke mechanic, the athlete attempted to replicate the technique on her own before traveling to Italy.
Spotting the change during acclimatization, the coach intervened immediately to restore the proper stroke pattern for open water. As he explained, mechanics that work in calm pool conditions or across short distances fail to hold up against severe ocean currents and winds, proving that strict coaching standards exist solely to ensure an athlete's safety and performance on race day.
A call for professional development and ocean grassroots programs
Finally, Renato Ribeiro made a case for closer collaboration among marathon swimming coaches in Brazil. He proposed continuous education programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives to strengthen the community, while also urging the development of open-water swimming from youth categories onward, introducing children to the sea beyond traditional pool environments.
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