Sports
Rodrigo Vasco: Extreme Balance and Performance in Sport & Career
Discover how discipline and passion shape a life of high-performance challenges and achievements.
In this episode of XTREMMA Sports, executive and endurance athlete Rodrigo Vasco shares his inspiring journey. He reveals how he balances a highly demanding career with challenges like Ironman and Ultraman, highlighting the importance of organization and mindset in extreme races. A conversation about choices, overcoming limits, and the relentless pursuit of going beyond boundaries.
On XTREMMA Sports, host Shubi Guimarães welcomes Rodrigo Vasco, an executive who, for decades, has balanced a demanding professional career with extreme endurance sports challenges. With a journey marked by races like Ultraman, Ironman, and ultras around the world, Vasco explores the discipline, consistency, and purpose that sustain his performance in all areas of life. The conversation delves into the choices that led him to go beyond the conventional, seeking challenges that require more than just physical preparation, in environments where control is limited.
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The Journey of a "Caipira" and the Call of Endurance
Originally from Taubaté/São José dos Campos, Rodrigo Vasco's relationship with sport began playfully in childhood. However, during college at Unicamp, sports were set aside. At 22/23, bothered by his lack of physical fitness, he decided to change. A friend gifted him a month of sports coaching, and in just one year, he was already participating in his first Ironman (2003).
His debut in the race was unusual: without having specifically trained for the full distance, he accepted a friend's invitation to use his registration. After completing the swim (3.8 km) and part of the bike (180 km), he was encouraged to continue. With a modest bike and no proper transition, he finished the Ironman Brazil in 12 hours and 56 minutes. This experience, despite the pain and swelling post-race, ignited the "endurance bug" that would accompany him from then on.
Synchronizing Professional Life and Extreme Challenges
Vasco emphasizes that discipline, cadence, and organization are pillars that intertwine his professional and athletic life. For him, one side aids the other. Annually, he organizes his "wheel of life," setting personal, professional, social, and athletic goals, including one target race per year.
His career, much like his endurance journey, was built long-term, with resistance and resilience. He learned that in sports, one needs patience to deal with suffering and the urge to quit, lessons that apply equally to the corporate world.
The Price of "-itis" and the Importance of Recovery
Early in his journey, in his 20s, the pursuit of quick results led him to numerous injuries – the "-itis." This phase of overtraining and lack of body awareness made him understand the need for balance. Vasco learned to reduce training volume when necessary and to prioritize recovery, a process he refined over the years, with the help of nutritionists, massages, and techniques like compression boots.
Veering Off Course: Ultraman and Unexpected Adventures
The inspiration for Ultraman came from figures like Alexandre Ribeiro and Sérgio Cordeiro. After a frustrating attempt to qualify for the Ironman Hawaii in 2007, Vasco realized he didn't just want to "improve his time," but to seek other challenges. In 2005, he supported Ricardo Arati in the Race Across America (RAAM), a race that fascinated him and made him want to participate in the future.
Race Across America: The Extreme of Scarcity and Competitive Spirit
In 2008, Vasco participated in RAAM as part of a team. The race, 4,800 km crossing the United States, exposed the team to extreme variations in temperature and altitude. With a lean support crew, sleep deprivation and the lack of basic resources (like no showers for seven days, using only wet wipes) led to moments of stress and questioning. At a critical point, almost giving up, an unexpected encounter with a lost opposing team reignited their competitive spirit, spurring them to continue.
After RAAM, Vasco sought out other "different" races, such as the Cape Epic (South Africa), the world's toughest mountain bike stage race, and other running and triathlon ultras like Ohana Carri (Ubatuba), Fodaxman (Santa Catarina), and Insano Man (Campos do Jordão).
The Ultraman Philosophy: Ohana, Popua, Mahalo and the Hawaii Slot
Ultraman, which consists of a 10 km swim, 420 km bike, and 84 km run, is much more than a physical test for Vasco. The race's philosophy, based on the Hawaiian principles of Ohana, Popua, Mahalo (friendship, help, and brotherhood), values support among competitors and the team. It's not enough to have the best time; one must demonstrate respect and fair play.
His journey towards Ultraman Hawaii began at Ultraman Brazil, where he placed sixth. Realizing this race didn't qualify him, he went to Ultraman Florida, where, despite a cracked bike frame that forced him to assemble and adjust a new spare bike two days before the race, he secured fifth place and the coveted slot for Hawaii.
Conquering Ultraman Hawaii Post-Pandemic
Due to the pandemic, Ultraman Hawaii was canceled in 2020 and 2021, eventually taking place in 2022. Vasco arrived insecure, and direct feedback from his coach, Marcelo Ortiz ("you're fat and out of shape"), served as motivation. With dedication and intensive nutritional work, he overcame a pre-race injury and delivered a progressively strong performance, finishing in 6th place overall (5th male), being the first South American. This achievement completed his Ultraman "trilogy."
The Legacy and Mind of the Extreme Athlete
Asked if the body adapts to discomfort or if the mind improves, Vasco believes it's a combination of both. He learned to manage suffering, optimize recovery, and pace energy during races. The secret to his longevity and motivation lies in not over-pressuring himself and in finding pleasure in the process. "I already work 10, 12 hours a day... this is my moment of fulfillment," he states, explaining that smiling during the race is his way of enjoying the challenge.
Beyond performance, Rodrigo Vasco seeks exploration. He prefers not to repeat races, using challenges as a way to discover new places and cultures, linking sport and adventure.
Tribute to an Idol: Alexandre Ribeiro
Vasco concludes by paying an emotional tribute to Alexandre Ribeiro, one of his greatest inspirations. Ribeiro, a two-time Guinness Book champion and six-time Ultraman Hawaii champion, is a sports legend who became a personal friend. Vasco, along with other friends, helped Ribeiro publish his book after the athlete was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Ribeiro's story of overcoming and friendship continues to inspire Vasco and the endurance community.
Rodrigo Vasco's trajectory is a testament that high performance, whether in sport or professional life, is achievable through conscious choices, discipline, a touch of daring, and above all, a passion for every kilometer and every challenge overcome.
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