Marinalva de Almeida (born 27 August 1977) is a Brazilian Paralympic athlete and model.
 Almeida and Landgraf at the 2016 Paralympics | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Born | 27 August 1977 Santa Isabel do Ivaí, Brazil |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics, sailing |
Life edit
Almeida was born in Santa Isabel do Ivaí, Paraná in 1977. She and her five siblings moved away when she was four.[1] When she was fifteen and living in Mato Grosso do Sul she had her leg amputated as the result of a car accident. She had borrowed a boy's bike and a car had crushed her leg. Although amputation was the doctors proposed action her mother refused them permission. Her sister's intercession allowed the operation to be performed.[1] As a part of her recovery she tried various sports. A year later she married and had three children in São Paulo state.[2]
She was introduced to sport by a friend who persuaded her to enter a race. She then took a gymnastics course at Senai. An early race was one designed for amputees who at that time completed the 10 km race using crutches.[3] In 2012 she completed a 15 km course on crutches.[2]
Almeida competed in sailing at the 2016 Paralympics, together with Bruno Landgraf. They placed eighth in the Skud 18 class.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b Leuzinger, Bruno (17 March 2016) Ela completou a São Silvestre de muletas. Projotodraft.com, Retrieved 17 September 2016
- ^ a b Parathlete and Model, Claudia, Retrieved 17 September 2016
- ^ Bezerra, Rosângela (24 November 2011) Personalidades da Arte e do Esporte dão Exemplos de Superação. fiesp.com.br
- ^ Marinalva de Almeida Archived 24 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine. rio2016.com