Sports
Shubi Guimarães: Extreme Performance and Active Life After 50
Multisport legend Shubi Guimarães unveils the secrets to maintaining high performance and a passion for challenges after the age of 50.
In this episode of Café com Tri, the legendary Shubi Guimarães shares her unique journey through extreme sports and triathlon. She discusses how age redefines the pursuit of performance and the challenges of preparing for an extreme Ironman. An inspiring conversation about overcoming obstacles, commitment, and the joy of living through sport at every stage of life.
In the relaxed atmosphere of Café com Tri, hosts Sérgio Magalhães, Beto Nitrini, and coach Wagner Spadotto welcome a true legend of Brazilian sport: Shubi Guimarães. With an enviable track record that includes Ironman podiums and pioneering adventure races, Shubi, at 50 years old, discusses how experience and a passion for sport can boost performance in a phase many consider to be a decline.
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An Epic Career: From Adventure Races to Triathlon
Shubi Guimarães reveals that her journey in sports began early, driven by a natural hyperactivity that led her to various disciplines, from competitive swimming to tap dancing. Her first encounter with adventure races in 1998, through a magazine, ignited a flame that would lead her to explore inhospitable places for 20 years. A participant in iconic events such as the Eco Challenge (including the edition documented on Amazon Prime) and the Raid Galoas, Shubi was captain of the legendary all-female team Atena, which challenged the idea that women were the “weakest link” in mixed teams. Team Atena even led the Brazilian rankings, proving that women excel in endurance sports and in terrains that demand skill more than pure strength.
With the change in the adventure racing landscape, Shubi transitioned to triathlon and other disciplines like outrigger canoeing, where she became a four-time Brazilian champion. She quips: "I am not a triathlete, I am doing triathlons." This phrase summarizes her adaptability and constant desire for new challenges. After years of training "by feel" and without structured plans, reaching 50 years old motivated her to pursue a more structured performance approach.
Performance After 50: Redefining Limits
At 50 years old, Shubi Guimarães not only remains active but feels "stronger than ever before." This phase, for her, is marked by significantly greater commitment and awareness. She emphasizes the importance of being around "stronger" people to feel pushed and to grow. However, she points out that this strength is a lifelong endeavor, not something acquired overnight without a sports background.
The aging process brings with it the need for intensified care, especially concerning recovery and sleep, which have become priorities for her. Nutrition, with expert guidance, has transformed her approach, strategically incorporating carbohydrates and aiming for an "athlete's body" she didn't possess in her youth, despite her high performance.
The Swedman Challenge: An Extreme Ironman
As a gift to herself at 50, Shubi is preparing for the Swedman, an extreme Ironman in Sweden. The race consists of: swimming 3,800 meters in a lake at 13-14 degrees Celsius with currents, cycling 205 km with 2,750m of elevation gain, and running 43 km of trail with 1,700m of ascent. She explains that she prefers extreme Ironmans to traditional ones because she adapts better to technical and difficult terrains, where skill and endurance surpass speed on flat terrain.
Coach Wagner Spadotto details that the preparation for the Swedman focuses on the athlete's metabolism, adapting training in São Paulo to simulate the extreme race conditions. The progression was cautious, considering initial pains, but consistency brought results. Shubi, with her notable resilience—such as recovering from a herniated disc without surgery, defying medical diagnoses—demonstrates a unique mindset for dealing with discomfort and pain.
The Mindset of Resilience and Inspiration
For Shubi, the concept of performance has changed. In her youth, it was about exploring the world; today, it's a commitment to herself and to the people who support her. The ego diminishes with age, allowing for a more conscious and less punitive approach. She doesn't just seek a result, but a well-executed process, enjoying every moment and every scenario, from the moonrise during training to the mountain peak landscapes.
Sharing stories of race mishaps, like capsizing in rapids at night, which led her to "be saved by her paddle," or an experience where her teammate Nora suffered from septicemia at the Eco Challenge Fiji and had hallucinations, Shubi reveals the brutal reality of extreme sports. However, she emphasizes the enchantment of nights in nature and the fortune of witnessing wildlife. Her message is clear: 50 is not too late to start anything. You need to have a goal, motivation, and seek the right support to enjoy the journey.
Shubi Guimarães is an inspiration to everyone, showing that passion and commitment to sport can transform aging into an opportunity to redefine limits and reach new heights. Her program Extremo Esportes on Stemma Sports continues to explore these narratives of overcoming challenges.
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