Star of the pools and social networks: at 22, Brazilian Gabriel dos Santos Araujo hopes to win three swimming titles at the Paris Paralympic Games, which take place until September 8.
After easily winning a first gold medal on Thursday in the 100m backstroke, opening his country’s tally, he will try to win again on Saturday evening in the 50m backstroke.
In the pools since childhood
Gabriel dos Santos Araujo discovered the joy of water early. “Since we wanted him to have a normal childhood, we took him to a club where there was a swimming pool. At four or five years old, he already knew how to swim, even though he didn’t have arms,” his mother Ineida Magda dos Santos, a retired teacher, recently recounted.
The Brazilian suffers from phocomelia, a malformation caused by the arrest of the development of one or more limbs during pregnancy. He has stumps at the shoulders, his legs are atrophied, but he can walk on his two feet.
The athlete discovered competition as a teenager, when a teacher registered him at the age of 13 for a school tournament, without telling his parents: “he won five medals. Since then, he hasn’t stopped,” his mother said.
Dolphin technique
To swim, Gabriel dos Santos Araujo undulates in the water like a dolphin, with pelvic movements. He perfected this technique with his coach, Fabio Pereira Antunes.
The para-athlete trains six times a week in the pool in Juiz de Fora, a city in the state of Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil. He also performs workouts out of the water, including strength training exercises for the lower back, abdominals and pelvic floor.
Brazilian flag bearer
The charismatic swimmer, who won two gold medals and a silver at the Tokyo Games three years ago, has been named Brazil’s flag bearer for the Paris Paralympics.
“The Opening Ceremony is a unique moment in the life of an athlete,” Gabriel dos Santos Araujo said at a press conference. “So I was very honored to be able, in my second Paralympic Games, at such a young age, to achieve this great feat, which many athletes, great Brazilian athletes, have had the privilege of accomplishing.”
Victory Dance
Like former sprint king Usain Bolt, he celebrates his victories with a signature gesture, busting out a few dance moves on the podium.
He had already started this ritual during the Tokyo Paralympic Games and unveiled a new little choreography on Thursday during his first victory in Paris.
Social media star
When he’s not swimming lengths, Gabriel dos Santos Araujo cultivates his popularity on the social network Instagram, where he has nearly 150,000 subscribers. On his account, he mainly shares his daily life as an athlete.
It is with his toes that he navigates on the screen of his phone. And it is also how he uses the controller of his video game console, especially football, his other passion.
