Children|Education / Professionalization|Sports
Stories of overcoming adversity on and off the field show how sports transform lives
Inspiring athletes can change the way you view physical activity. That’s because they used sport as a tool for personal and social transformation. Whether overcoming vulnerabilities, facing prejudice, or breaking down historical barriers, their trajectories show that discipline, resilience, and teamwork can change destinies on and off the field.
Below are five stories that prove how sport can transform lives.
The first Brazilian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in judo, Rafaela was born and raised in Cidade de Deus, Rio de Janeiro. She found in sports an alternative to social vulnerability and faced countless challenges throughout her career. Even though she was eliminated early in the 2012 Olympics and suffered criticism, she bounced back and won the gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games. In other words, her story is an example of overcoming adversity, self-control, and emotional strength.
Born in Minas Gerais, Sheilla built a successful career in volleyball, becoming a two-time Olympic champion with the Brazilian team at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games. Recognized for her leadership and team spirit, she shows that success is the result of discipline, daily dedication, and collective commitment.
One of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history, Allyson Felix overcame injuries and structural challenges in the sport, also becoming an active voice in defending the rights of female athletes who are mothers. Her career inspires perseverance and the courage to fight for changes that benefit other women in sports. The American sprinter has won 11 medals (7 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) between 2004 and 2020.
An Olympic medalist in Athens in 2004, Flávio Canto expanded his legacy by founding Instituto Reação, a social project that offers opportunities to young people from communities in Rio de Janeiro. He represents the power of sport as a tool for social transformation and citizenship.
Considered one of the greatest chess players of all time, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen stood out even as a child for his strategic thinking and concentration. His career shows that sport also develops cognitive and emotional skills and discipline, qualities that are fundamental to life.
How about drawing inspiration from these stories and changing your own trajectory? Like these great names, the Ramacrisna Institute believes in the power of sport as an instrument of social transformation. Through various initiatives, the institution expands free access to sports for children, adolescents, young people, adults, and the elderly.
The project is a partnership between Ramacrisna and the Betim City Government. The initiative offers the city’s communities physical activities, sports, leisure and recreation, body practices, and competitive sports, for example. Children aged 4 and up, teenagers, young people, adults, and seniors, with and without disabilities, can participate. The activities are free, carried out in inclusive environments, and supervised by specialized professionals.
Created to ensure democratic access to physical activities, the project offers sports such as:
The Ramacrisna Educational Support Center (CAER) offers comprehensive training to children and adolescents in socially vulnerable situations. In addition to educational reinforcement activities after school, children participate in sports workshops that include:
Participants also have the opportunity to compete in championships and competitions, strengthening their sportsmanship and teamwork skills.
Carried out in partnership with Petrobras, the project serves children, adolescents, and young people in socially vulnerable situations in Betim, Ibirité, and Sarzedo, in Greater Belo Horizonte. Sports activities contribute to the integral development and expansion of various skills and competencies of children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 through sports and cultural experiences. The sports include:
The recreational methodology prioritizes playfulness, promoting enjoyment, creativity, and reduced anxiety.
In partnership with the Betim City Government, the project was developed to bring free activities and courses to the entire city of Betim. With centers distributed throughout Betim, the project offers activities such as:
By offering so many possibilities, Ramacrisna broadens horizons and trains new inspiring athletes every day, young people who learn on the court, on the mat, on the board, or in the pool that sport is also a school for life. Contact us and find out how to participate.
