Sérgio Santos Reveals the Path to High Performance in Brazilian Triathlon
CBTri Consultant and International Coach Explains Challenges, Strategies, and the Importance of a Winning Mindset.
In an interview with Stemma Performance, Sérgio Santos, an international consultant for the Brazilian Triathlon Confederation, shares his extensive experience. He details the development of elite athletes, the challenges faced by Brazilian triathletes, and strategies for achieving high performance in the sport.
Welcomed by Bruna Mahn at Stemma Performance, Sérgio Santos, international consultant for the Brazilian Triathlon Confederation (CBTri), shared his extensive experience and insights into the development of high-performance athletes. With over 30 years dedicated to sports development, including Olympic athletes, Santos offers a practical and in-depth overview of building an elite triathlon career.
A 16-Year Journey at CBTri: From the Field to Strategy
Sérgio Santos's trajectory at CBTri spans 16 years, with different phases of involvement. Initially focused on direct training for the Rio 2016 Olympic cycle — between 2011 and 2016 — he later transitioned to technical coordination. His current objective is to transmit his experience to coaches and athletes, working on medium and long-term planning, with an Olympic focus. "If I can help other coaches create a shortcut to get there without having to go through certain detours that I had to go through, then I believe I am doing things well," says Santos, emphasizing the importance of avoiding past mistakes.
Rio 2016: Portugal as a Base for Excellence
One of the milestones of his work was the project for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which took Brazilian athletes to train in Rio Maior, Portugal. The decision aimed to compensate for the lack of ideal training conditions in Brazil and the proximity to European competitive circuits, considered to have higher density and quality. Santos explains that although the athletes of that period did not achieve the expected Olympic results, they paved the way for the current generation, who now compete at a high level with real podium prospects. "Some Brazilian athletes really wanted to participate in the Games, had the conditions and participated, but I believe some, at least, had no real prospect of reaching the Games to contend for the top spots. I believe this reality has changed in the world circuit," observes the consultant.
The Challenges of the Brazilian Athlete: Beyond Talent
Santos identifies the main difficulty for Brazilian athletes: the lower competitiveness of circuits in the Americas compared to Europe. This not only limits competition opportunities but also results in lower competitive density. The 'hole is deeper' at the World Championships, where the level is superior. He points out that while the talent and dedication of Brazilians are unquestionable — "harder working than most of the athletes I met in the European reality" — the lack of competitive opportunities from an early age impacts their technical repertoire.
European athletes, for example, compete from a young age in various climatic and terrain conditions, developing crucial adaptability. In Brazil, less exposure to variations (cold, rain, technical courses) means that "if it's a competition with particularly favorable conditions, things go better. If it's a competition with particularly unfavorable conditions, things go worse." Training in Europe, therefore, not only brings them closer to a more competitive circuit but also exposes them to a wider range of scenarios, preparing them for any eventuality. Santos humorously recalls that at the beginning of the project in Portugal, the athletes "were freezing" because they weren't used to it and didn't have the appropriate equipment, highlighting how preparation for the weather is an integral part of high performance.
The Strategy Behind the Rio World Cup
The organization of the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro was a strategic move by CBTri. With 21 Brazilian athletes registered (11 men and 10 women), the event aims to promote the sport and offer low-cost competitive opportunities to the country's best. The choice of the sprint distance (instead of standard) was also strategic, allowing younger athletes to participate and minimizing fatigue in an already intense calendar. According to Santos, "it allows us to create more opportunities for more people."
The absence of Miguel Hidalgo, for example, is not an oversight, but part of a plan focused on rest and preparation for the World Championship in Pontevedra. "It was set up right at the beginning of Miguel's planning," explains Santos, highlighting that every move of an elite athlete is considered within a larger strategy.
World Cup vs. WTCS: Different Victory Profiles
Santos also elucidated the difference between the dynamics of a World Cup and the WTCS (World Triathlon Championship Series). He exemplifies this with Miguel Hidalgo's performance in London, where a group of 11 athletes isolated themselves in swimming and cycling, working together to avoid being caught. In World Cups, the lower density of elite athletes can lead to different strategies. "Often, athletes with the profile to be the best in WTCS may not necessarily be the best to win a World Cup," he notes.
He recalls competitions in Copacabana where groups of athletes with good running ability, but not necessarily the best swimmers or cyclists, ended up excelling because the main pack did not work together. In 2003 and 2004, athletes managed to open up to two minutes and were not caught. Other times, strong runners, like Marquinhos at the time, took advantage of the slower pace in cycling to secure a podium finish. This unpredictability, especially with the presence of Olympic athletes like Jennifer, Vitória, and Manoel, and young talents like Mariana Vargem, makes World Cups exciting and strategic.
'Audacity': The Mental Factor in High Performance
For Sérgio Santos, beyond physical and technical preparation, there's a crucial element often lacking in Brazilian athletes: audacity. "The Brazilian athlete sometimes lacks audacity more than quality. And audacity ends up being a mental process, not a physical one," he emphasizes. He reinforces the importance of having courage, trying, and not being content to follow the pace of others, especially in home competitions. "We won't be here playing to the rhythm of foreigners, because this is our home. So, foreigners will have to play to the rhythm of Brazilians," he concludes, inspiring a more proactive and winning mindset.
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