Two of the greatest names in Brazilian Athletics, Agberto Guimarães and Robson Caetano have taken different paths after finishing their careers on the tracks. The first one, with three editions of the Olympic Games (from 1980 to 1988), has chosen sport management. Today, he is the Rio 2016 Organising Committee Sport Director. The second, the greatest sprinter in Brazilian history, number 1 in the 200m in the late 1980, has a bachelor degree in Physical Education and Journalism, and is the actual Athletics commentator for a Brazilian television network. He has participated in the Olympic Games between 1984 and 1996.

Invited by the Rio 2016 official website to analyse the changes in the sport that has promoted them to myths in Brazil, Agberto and Robson have given the following interviews:

Sport trajectory in the last three decades

Agberto Guimarães – “Athletics is a sport extremely difficult to change. I think that what has most changed in the world was the fact that the Athletics International Federation has officialised cash payment of the prizes for the athletes. It also pays cash for the first, second and third places in its world championships.

Another thing that was responsible for a big change, for a chance in Athletics destiny, in the look of Athletics and the interest for Athletics, was the creation of Diamond and Gold Leagues, which distribute prizes of about one million dollars at the end of the season.”

Amateurism and professionalism

Robson Caetano – “It is very important that we do what we like. Doing it for pleasure. I liked to play football. When I discovered Athletics, I was fascinated by the sport. It is a democratic sport. I realised that I could get further with it. What high performance athletes as the Jamaican – that dominates the sprint events – have is the amateur spirit. It is the irreverence, the fact that they experience that.

The sport is not amateur anymore because now the training is grounded. With internet, the information gets easier to people. It enables coaches to give specific training to each athlete, using professional techniques.”

Progress of records

Robson Caetano – “I believe there is few to do in terms of human material, in terms of athlete. What can make the records fall is the material used in the competitions. From the sporting material, skin tighter clothes, lighter shoes, to the track material composition, more adherent, less adherent, the starting blocks quality, the jumping board, at last, all the elements that complement the athlete’s participation.”

Brazilian Athletics

Agberto Guimarães – “When I began my career (1975) and used to compete here, Brazil had three synthetic tracks: one at Ibirapuera, in São Paulo, another at Célio de Barros, in Rio de Janeiro, and another one in Brasília. They were the only three tracks. It was like that for a long time. Only in 1979, 1980, a track was made in Curitiba and another one was made in São Paulo, which was the City Hall Centre.

Nowadays, we have tracks of quality all over the country. Second change: advanced sport equipment acquisition. Diverse sites in Brazil have them, including Belém, that has a track in a football stadium with  high level equipments. It is also the site of a Grand Prix leg.

Another chance is that you don’t have to leave the country to participate in a good level organization. Another thing that has dramatically changed, not only for Athletics but for other sports, was the access to sponsorship.

The first time I was sponsored in Brazil was after I was a finalist at the 1980 Olympic Games, after I was fourth and fifth places. Till then, no sponsorship. I had one when I was out of Brazil, from the University [at the USA], from a sport company that helped me. I used to earn some money at the meeting I competed in, but I had not had sponsorship in Brazil. This has changed a lot.”

Robson Caetano – “In terms of structure, there is no doubt that Brazil is better now. In terms of sport foundation, of new talent development, we are still underwhelming. It is necessary a scholar programme for Athletics. The filter to find new talents has to occur in school, for that, afterwards, these young people could be taken to excellence training centres, like the ones that are being built.

In my career, I get to participate in the Brazilian School Games. That is the way that has to be followed: foster the sport at school.”

Transition to former athlete life

Robson Caetano – “When athletes compete in the high performance level, they tend to think they are invincible, indestructible, immortal. The athletes’ achievements will remain forever, but their careers will end. They leave the centre of the stage and go to the audience. In the sport spectacle, they stop receiving and start to pay to participate as spectator.

Today, athletes earn more money than in my time. I have been the best of the world in my event, I have achieved results in international events and, most of the times, I did not win anything. It is necessary that athletes keep alert, because the money will not come forever.

Investing what you have won, at least a part, in education, is crucial, as I have done. It is necessary to attend courses, to prepare yourself. It is important to remember that life goes on after the tracks.”