Jefinho, the Pele of Paralympic football, carries Rio 2016 Olympic Torch in Salvador
Visually impaired footballer, a two-time Paralympic Games champion, says event provided taste of the Games to come
Jeferson 'Jefinho' Gonçalves with the Olympic torch in Salvador (Photo: Rio 2016/Marcos de Paula)
Jefinho Gonçalves, considered by many the greatest visually impaired footballer of all time, led a host of Paralympic athletes who carried the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch in Salvador on Tuesday (24 May). Better known as Jefinho, Gonçalves is a two-time Paralympic Games champion in 5-a-side football who will lead Brazil's effort to maintain their dominance of the sport at the Rio 2016 Games in September.
The torch relay in the state capital of Bahia was kicked off by long distance swimmer and Salvador native Marcelo Collet, the first Paralympic athlete to cross the English Channel, in 2010. “To carry the torch was as emotional as the crossing (of the English Channel). Sport has been my life since childhood. The Olympic torch relay is something I look forward to every four years,” Collet said, initiating proceedings in Pelourinho, in the city’s historic centre.
Collet carried the torch to the sounds of the Olodum carnival band (Photo: Rio 2016/Marcos de Paula)
Jefinho received a warm welcome from the crowd in the Monte Serrat neighbourhood, whose highlight is its famous white fort. “To experience the joy, the energy of the Brazilian people whilst I was carrying the torch was preparation for what is coming,” he said. “I feel strengthened by this and I hope we can reciprocate this joy back to the Brazilian people.”
The dream of conquering a third title is close, and Jefinho requested a little extra help to achieve this goal: “We are working hard to get the medal we are after. We are counting on the support of the fans who I’m sure will fill the stands to cheer on our team,” he said.
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Verônica Almeida, who won a swimming bronze medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and holds the Guinness world record for 10km open water swimming, also carried the torch in Salvador. Before her leg of the relay, she joked that she would not be in a rush, saying: “I broke the record for the quickest time over 10km in open sea. Now I want to break the record for the longest time carrying the Olympic torch.”
