The 14-year-old teenager is a student in a social project in the city and inspires others with his story of overcoming adversity
At 14, Ray Lucas Matos de Araújo has just taken another important step in his judo career: the teenage athlete has been called up to join the Minas Gerais Under-18 Judo Team. This achievement is the result of a lot of discipline and dedication and shows the power of sport as a tool for social transformation.
The athlete is part of the Ramacrisna Institute judo team and has been making a name for himself nationally with an impressive resume for his age. He was runner-up in the Brazilian school championships in 2024, won bronze in 2023, and is a three-time champion of the Minas Gerais School Games. In addition, he is the Minas Gerais judo champion, four-time Betim Cup champion, and has been among the top five in the Brazilian Regional Championship and the Minas International Cup.
The call-up to the state team is another great achievement in the teenager’s career, which began in the sport when he was still a child. Emotional, Ray shares his sense of accomplishment. “I always dreamed of getting here, and I did it. I have a lot to thank everyone who supports me daily, my family, my sensei, my team, everyone who cheers for me. From now on, it will be more dedication every day, so that even more achievements will come and who knows, maybe even the Olympics,” says Ray.
The young man’s coach, Caliton Silva, points out that the call-up is the result of a lot of hard work and dedication. “Our expectations for the team and Ray are always high. Even though it is a social project, our students train very hard. We knew that the category was difficult, it is his first year in the under-18s, facing older athletes, but he has surprised us more and more. The preparation has been intense, but thanks to the support of the Ramacrisna Institute, we have achieved good results,” explains the coach.
In addition to training, Ray is a scholarship recipient of the Bolsa Atleta program, which provides financial support so that he can continue to devote himself fully to judo. “It was a very important achievement. The scholarship will help me financially, beyond what my family could offer,“ says the young man. For the vice president of the Ramacrisna Institute, Solange Bottaro, Ray’s entry into the Minas Gerais team reinforces the social role of sport. ”Seeing a boy like Ray win a place on the state team is proof that investing in sport transforms lives. Ramacrisna believes in the potential of our students, and stories like Ray’s show that with support, dedication, and opportunities, it is possible to go far,” she says.
With his eyes set on the future, Ray is clear about his goals: “I want to gain more knowledge, win even more titles, and inspire others with my work. Ramacrisna gave me the foundation to dream bigger and bigger,” he concludes.
About the Ramacrisna Institute’s Judo Project
The Ramacrisna Institute’s Judo project is an initiative that offers free sports training to socially vulnerable children and adolescents, promoting discipline, focus, self-esteem, and opportunities for personal and professional development. Carried out through a partnership with Vale, Itaú, WEG, and Criança Esperança, the project has already revealed talents who have stood out in important regional, national, and international championships.
The athletes have achieved several victories in state and national sports competitions, such as the Minas Gerais Student Games (JEMG), the Betim Judo Cup, and the Brazilian School Games (JEBs), where they achieved Betim’s first victory in the competition’s history. In addition, they have also been awarded prizes in the Brazilian Regional Championship and the Minas International Cup, consolidating the Ramacrisna Institute as a breeding ground for young talent in judo. The results are the fruit of continuous work to encourage sport as a tool for social transformation.
