Edwarda Dias De Olivera

Started: She began playing volleyball at age 10. She took up sitting volleyball in 2013. (cbvd.org.br, 22 Jun 2018; jornalfatos.com.br, 25 Oct 2012) Reason: She was playing standing volleyball in a local league in Parana, Brazil, when she was encouraged to try sitting volleyball. "I didn't even know what sitting volleyball was. Until then I had never seen it." (Chegando o Chiriguete Facebook page, 14 Sep 2019) Additional Info: BADMINTON She represented Brazil in sitting volleyball at the 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Games, winning two bronze medals. She then decided to switch sports and focus on Para badminton following the 2020 Games in Tokyo, but turned her focus back to sitting volleyball after she was unable to secure a place to compete in badminton at the 2024 Games in Paris. "I'm a beginner in Para badminton but I'm enjoying it very much and hope to improve and build upon my achievements. [Unlike in sitting volleyball] I'm on my own, not in a team environment and making all the decisions. So, it's all on me [when playing badminton]." (ge.globo.com, 08 May 2024; Instagram profile, 21 May 2024; Confederacao Brasileira de Badminton YouTube channel, 07 Nov 2023; bwfbadminton.com, 05 Aug 2023; cpb.org.br, 29 Nov 2019; Chegando o Chiriguete Facebook page, 14 Sep 2019)

Sporting Relatives: Her partner Rogerio Oliveira is a Para badminton player. He won two gold medals at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile. (SportsDeskOnline, 12 Mar 2024; bwfbadminton.com, 05 Aug 2023)