Para-athlete and user of the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) para-sports care line, Pablo Gustavo Ferreira, won first place in the 13th edition of the Florianópolis International Marathon, held in August. The athlete competed in the 42km race, in the category for wheelchair users.
In addition to first place, Pablo also broke a personal record, completing the race in 2 hours and 22 minutes. He attributes his victory to the support given by his family, friends and multidisciplinary team, who accompanied him during the training period.
In celebrating his achievement, the athlete emphasizes that his presence at the event is within the context of challenges that still exist in terms of inclusion. For him, there is a long way to go in ensuring the representation of people with disabilities in competitions, especially large-scale ones such as marathons.
“It is essential that we continue to fight for accessibility, inclusion and equal opportunities. We need more initiatives that encourage participation and offer the necessary support so that these athletes can compete,” says the athlete.
Awareness, educational actions, and the dissemination of information are fundamental points in promoting parasports as a possibility for inclusion and social participation of people with disabilities.
Pablo is one of the users who are part of the ISD parasports care line, which operates at the Institute's Paralympic Reference Center in Macaíba. The strategy, accredited by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB), facilitates training that ranges from sports initiation to high performance, in addition to courses, events and activities involving health professionals, users and family members.
parasport
The ISD promotes parasports activities for users of the ISD Specialized Rehabilitation Center (CER ISD) care lines at the ISD/Macaíba Paralympic Reference Center. Currently, bocce and paraathletics are offered to adults and children aged 7 and over free of charge.
After scheduling an appointment, interested individuals will undergo a remote screening followed by a comprehensive assessment, when the eligibility criteria for the courses offered by the Institute are verified. Appointments can be made by calling (84) 4042-0033; (84) 4042-0044, or via WhatsApp (text only): (84) 9-9155-3027, Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm.
About ISD
The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) is a Social Organization linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC) and includes the Edmond and Lily Safra International Neuroscience Institute and the Anita Garibaldi Center for Health Education and Research, both in Macaíba. ISD's mission is to promote education for life, forming citizens through integrated teaching, research and extension actions, in addition to contributing to a fairer and more humane transformation of Brazilian social reality.
