Olympic and Paralympic athletes reveal their resolutions for 2014
Alice Franco, César Cielo, Daniel Dias, Poliana Okimoto and other sports stars outline their goals for the new year
Brazilian and international athletes reveal their goals for the incoming year (Rio 2016)
Having a child, going on an inspirational trip and improving their performance… with the arrival of the new year, it’s time to renew energy and set new goals. That’s what some of the leading athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic world have done.
To celebrate the arrival of 2014, rio2016.com asked sports icons such as Alice Franco, César Cielo, Fernando Fernandes, Daniel Dias, Ollie Phillips, Poliana Okimoto and Rafaela Silva what their resolutions are.
World marathon swimming champion and winner of the best female athlete gong at the 2013 Brazilian Olympic Awards, Poliana Okimoto aims to start a social project involving her sport.
“I always wanted to develop a social project aimed specifically at marathon swimming. It would be a dream come true to implement this initiative in 2014,” she said.
Photo: Getty Images/Al Bello
Brazilian swimming idol César Cielo is focused on improving his performance in the water.
“I want to swim very quickly and reduce my times. I will train in 2014 as if I were training for a world championship. The important thing is to continue reducing my times in order to arrive in 2016 and swim even faster in Brazil. One step at a time, but paying attention all the time,” he said.
Photo: Getty Images/Al Bello
For Paralympic swimmer Daniel Dias, his greatest adventure will take place outside the pool in 2014.
“My first child will be born in March 2014. For sure, my new favourite activity will be spending time with little Asaph,” he revealed.
Photo: CPB/Patrícia Santos
Alice Franco, Italian two-time European marathon swimming champion, wants to change her training routine to specialise in a new competition.
“My speciality in marathon swimming is the 25km event, but I really want to participate in the Rio 2016 Games. Therefore, in 2014, I will train hard to improve my performance in the 10km marathon, which is the Olympic event,” she explained.
Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro
Ollie Phillips, who hopes to represent Great Britain in the rugby sevens event at Rio 2016, will do everything to regain his full fitness.
“I am recovering from an injury, so my resolution for 2014 is to dedicate myself to my rehabilitation and give myself the best chance of making it to the Rio 2016 Games,” he said.
Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro
Rio-born Thaisa, two-time Olympic champion with the Brazilian volleyball team, wants to resume an old habit in the new year.
“I played piano in my childhood, but at the age of 10, I ended up giving up music. In 2014, I want to make time to starting playing again,” she said.
Photo: Wagner Carmo
According to Olympic gymnastics champion Arthur Zanetti, his training and studies will have to be timed extremely carefully.
“2014 is the second year of the Olympic cycle. There will be world heats in China, the South American Games and World Cup heats. Oh, yes, and I have a personal goal – to pass the year at university properly, without having to retake any courses,” said the athlete, who is studying physical education.
Photo: Getty Images/Buda Mendes
The fastest blind woman in the world, Terezinha Guilhermina, has a very clear goal: to become even faster.
“My objective is to run 100m in less than 12 seconds,” she said.
Photo: Brazilian Paralympic Committee
Adrenaline is what motivates four-time world para-canoe champion Fernando Fernandes. His next adventure is scheduled to take place in the waters of the Pacific.
“My adventure in 2014 is to complete the Molokai-Oahu Crossing in Hawaii. It’s 60km in open sea. It’s a very high level of difficulty, balance is very complicated, but I’m training for this,” he said.
Photo: fernandofernandeslife.com
Jefinho, Brazilian two-time Paralympic football 5-a-side champion, will dedicate a large share of his time in 2014 to resume his studies.
“I have a great personal goal for 2014, which is to go back to studying. I want to prepare myself to follow a career when I stop playing and I intend to study something in the information technology area, which is something I really like and is very developed in terms of accessibility,” he revealed.
Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro
Tony Azevedo, captain of the United States water polo team, will dedicate more time this year to his family.
“I want to be present in the life of my child as much as possible, even as I continue to have other obligations and a full diary,” he said.
Photo: Getty Images/Joe Scarnici
According to Alan Fonteles Oliveira, a new stage in his life is just starting. His marriage to Lorranny Moura happened at the end of 2013, but the wedding party is scheduled for the first half of 2014.
“It’s another personal victory for me. I always dreamed of getting married,” he said.
Photo: CPB/Patrícia Santos
Rafaela Silva, Brazil’s first world judo champion, has the goal of making her family more comfortable.
“We rent our house in Freguesia (part of the Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood of Jacarepaguá) and this year I want buy the house where we live for my family,” she said.
