Brazilian Parathletes Shine in National Youth Championship as Santarém Boosts Paralympic Sports

The Fast Wheels/Fupes/Semes team achieved remarkable success at the Campeonato Brasileiro de Paratletismo de Jovens, returning with 14 medals including eight golds and a world record. Felipe Araújo Costa stood out by setting a world record time of 15:36 in the 100m T72 sub20 race, ranking as the second best in Brazil and third fastest globally. Ana Claudia Coelho Maciel and Igor Henrique Andrade Silva also impressed by securing three gold medals each in their respective F56 sub17 and F55 sub20 categories. Coach Antonio Silva credited the partnership with local sports authorities such as the Secretaria de Esportes (Semes) and Fundação Pró-Esporte de Santos (Fupes) for the team's achievements, highlighting the impact of ongoing athlete development programs within the Fast Wheels project. This initiative aligns with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 3 promoting health and well-being.

Parallel to competitive success, in Santarém, Pará, around 70 students from three municipal schools participated in a Paralympic Festival organized by the Universidade do Estado do Pará (Uepa) to promote Paralympic sports among youth. Featuring sports like boccia, sitting volleyball, table tennis, and badminton, the event engaged students in a rotation format to try each sport, with guidance from volunteer instructors. The festival, held in partnership with the Associação Santarena de Paralímpico (ASDEP), aims to foster interest in Paralympic sports, with regular free training sessions available to children and adolescents. Professor Jorge Miranda, collaborating with ASDEP, emphasized the importance of encouraging youth participation in Paralympic activities. Parents or guardians can enroll children through municipal school centers or directly at Uepa's coordination.