Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araujo
200m Freestyle
BrazilBiography
Started: He took up the sport in 2015 in Corinto, Brazil. (REDEMAISHD YouTube channel, 05 Aug 2019; globoesporte.globo.com, 16 Mar 2019)
Reason: He was spotted by physical education teacher Aguilar Freitas, who asked if he knew how to swim and enrolled him in a school competition. "Neither myself or my mother knew he had signed me up. I went along and won three gold medals. I started swimming there and never stopped. Swimming is the best thing that has happened to me. It changed my life completely." (REDEMAISHD YouTube channel, 05 Aug 2019)
Ambition: To win three gold medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (insidethegames.biz, 22 Aug 2024)
Awards: He and athletics competitor Elizabeth Rodrigues Gomes were Brazil's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024)
He was named Male Para Athlete of the Year for 2023 by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee [CPB]. (agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br, 15 Dec 2023; cpb.org.br, 14 Dec 2023)
He was named the 2021 Revelation Athlete of the Year by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee [CPB]. (tribunademinas.com.br, 10 Feb 2022)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderMale
Birth DateMarch 16, 2002
Place of ResidenceJUIZ DE FORA
OccupationAthlete
Languages SpokenPortuguese
CoachFabio Pereira Antunes [personal], BRA
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 1 | 200m Freestyle - S2 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 4:06.52 |
| 1 | 50m Backstroke - S2 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 53.96 |
| 2 | 100m Backstroke - S2 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 2:02.47 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | 100m Backstroke - S2 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 1:55.34 |
| 1 | 200m Freestyle - S2 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 4:01.51 |
| 1 | 50m Backstroke - S2 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 54.08 |
| 1 | 100m Backstroke - S2 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 1:57.69 |
| 1 | 200m Freestyle - S2 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 3:59.06 |
| 1 | 50m Backstroke - S2 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 53.24 |
| 5 | 50m Freestyle - S3 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 51.84 |
| 7 | 50m Breaststroke - SB2 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 1:13.56 |
| 9 | 50m Breaststroke - SB2 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 1:20.76 |
| ParaPan American Games | ||||
| 1 | 100m Backstroke - S2 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 2:00.02 |
| 1 | Men's 100m Freestyle S2 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 1:56.61 |
| 1 | 200m Freestyle - S2 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 4:05.05 |
| 1 | 50m Backstroke - S2 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 56.70 |
| 1 | Men's 50m Freestyle S2 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 52.09 |
| 4 | 50m Breaststroke - SB2 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 1:19.07 |
