Isaquias GUIMARAES QUEIROZ (BRA)

Sem Rim [Without Kidney]

A man of many firsts, Queiroz became the first sprint paddler from his country to win a medal at the Olympics and also the first Brazilian to bag three Olympic medals in a single Games at Rio 2016. He has gone through a lot of adversities as a child, including being kidnapped at the age of five and losing a kidney by 10. At Paris 2024, he added one more laurel by winning the men's C1 1000 silver.

Isaquias QUEIROZ DOS SANTOS

Lagoa Santa

Athlete

He took up canoeing at age 11

He tried the sport thanks to a social project in his town.

Going to the cinema, playing video games, fishing, music, travelling

Club Athletico Paulistano: São Paulo

Jesus Morlan [national]

Spanish

He trains from Monday to Saturday

Brazilian footballer Neymar, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

He was named the 2015 Male Athlete of the Year and 2015 Canoe Sprint Athlete of the Year by the Brazilian Olympic Committee. (veja.abril.com.br, 16 Dec 2015)

NATIONAL FIRST He became the first Brazilian sprint paddler of either gender to win a medal at the Olympic Games when he claimed silver in the C1 1000m at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 18 Aug 2016) ROUGH CHILDHOOD At age three a pot of boiling water fell on him, burning a significant part of his body. He had to stay in hospital for over a month. Two years later, he was kidnapped and offered for adoption before his mother managed to get him back. At age 10 he fell out of a tree after trying to catch a snake and lost a kidney. (uol.com.br, 14 Jul 2015; globo.com, 20 Dec 2013)

Olympics: Gold - 1, Silver - 3, Bronze - 1; World Championships: Gold - 7, Silver - 1, Bronze - 6.