Vinicius Santana: From Swimming to the Olympic Triathlon Dream
Triathlete Vinicius Santana shares his journey, ambitions, and strategy to shine at the World Triathlon Cup Rio.
At 20 years old, Vinicius Santana shares his unexpected journey from the swimming world to high-performance triathlon. He explains the difficult decision to focus on his sports career in pursuit of an Olympic medal. Also, discover his preparation and tactics for the World Triathlon Cup Rio.
In an exclusive interview with Bruna Mahn for Stemma Sports, young Brazilian triathlon talent, Vinicius Santana, opened up about his career, from his introduction to the sport to his ambitious plans for the future. At just 20 years old, Vinicius is already a rising star in the triathlon scene, dreaming big of an Olympic medal for Brazil.
The Unexpected Transition: From Swimming to Triathlon
Vinicius Santana's sports journey began in swimming in Curitiba, where his mother was a teacher. He swam 50-meter breaststroke, a discipline very different from the endurance sport he practices today. The turning point came unexpectedly when, in a heated pool at another school, warm-ups before swimming included running and cycling. Without realizing it, Vinicius was already training for triathlon.
It was then that coach Matheus, from the triathlon school, noticed his potential and invited him to a stage of the Brazilian Championship in Florianópolis. "My father asked, 'What do you mean triathlon? He's a swimmer, isn't he?'" recalls Vinicius, who received support from a triathlon school at Colégio da Polícia Militar, which provided bicycles, running shoes, and uniforms.
The Importance of Foundation and the Choice for High Performance
Vinicius emphasizes the importance of grassroots sports programs, not only because they "keep many children off the streets" and offer valuable experiences, but also because they are crucial for high performance. "By having a solid base, recruiting many athletes, we can select better," he states.
At 20, Vinicius faced a difficult decision: pursue sports or university. A full-time student at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), he realized the difficulty of balancing training and competition travel. After a year, he decided to defer his studies. "I believe we have more time to study than we do to be in sports," he muses, explaining that his love for triathlon made him "take the risk" and focus 100% on his athletic career, with plans to resume his studies in the future.
The Olympic Medal Dream and Strategy in Rio
Vinicius Santana's goal is clear and audacious: "I want to be the Brazilian who will win an Olympic medal, a gold medal. That is my dream." He emphasizes the importance of having a dedicated team behind him, sharing the same objective, to wake up every day with motivation.
After debuting in the World Triathlon Cups last year, and having won a Pan American Cup, Vinicius Santana is focused on a strong performance at the World Triathlon Cup Rio. His strategy for the Sprint distance race (750m swim | 20km cycle | 5km run) in Copacabana involves starting the swim very strong to ensure good positioning and staying in a good pack on the bike. He emphasizes the importance of transitions (T1 and T2).
Regarding the cycling course, which is flat and not very technical, Vinicius explains it could lead to two scenarios: "one where everyone bunches up and the cycling becomes a leisurely ride, turning into a road race, or one where everyone is spread out and pushing themselves hard on the bike the entire time." His goal is to "come off the bike in front during T1 and start the run really strong."
For the fans who will be in Copacabana, Vinicius has a simple and direct request: "Go Brazil!" Following the journey of athletes like Vinicius Santana is to witness the passion and dedication that drive high-performance sports, inspiring many to seek their best selves.