Zileide Cassiano da Silva

Started: She took up athletics at age nine. She began competing in Para athletics in 2021. (ribeiraopreto.sp.gov.br, 21 Nov 2022) Reason: She was already competing in non-Para sprint events. She was then encouraged to try Para athletics by a coach. "I did some sprint races but then I became passionate about long jump." (cpb.org.br, 17 Jul 2023; ribeiraopreto.sp.gov.br, 21 Nov 2022) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (ribeiraopreto.sp.gov.br, 09 Apr 2024) Additional Info: HOMEMADE PIT Her father Rubens has built a running track and long jump pit in front of their home for Zileide to use while training. She used the improvised track to prepare for the 2023 World Championships, where she claimed silver in the women's T20 long jump. "I was very happy. I didn't look at the patchwork, the way it was made, because I know it was from the heart. [My father] gave a lot to this track so I said, 'I'm going to make it happen'." (ge.globo.com, 10 Sep 2023) NAME Her father Rubens named her Zileide after a Brazilian TV reporter, Zileide Silva, who impressed him during a news broadcast. "When my wife was pregnant I used to watch the National Journal. When I saw Zileide Silva on air I said, 'How is that possible?' She had to be very intelligent and very lucky because it was very difficult to get into the network at that time. I told my wife that if I had a baby girl I would name her Zileide," Rubens said. (ge.globo.com, 10 Sep 2023)