Users of the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) collectively won a total of 29 medals during the Natal stage of the Loterias Caixa 2026 Paralympic Meeting. Promoted by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB), the event brought together beginner, university, and high-performance competitors in athletics in the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, including track events, shot put, and javelin throw.

For many of the Institute's participants, the competition represented their first official contact with high-performance sports. This was the case for Hildenyr Daniel, who made a great debut by winning two gold medals in the absolute category (shot put and javelin throw).

"This is my first time in the competition and I ended up exceeding my expectations. It was very rewarding and I intend to participate more and more," the user celebrated.

Sport as a tool for inclusion and rehabilitation.

Far beyond the podium and the impressive medal count, initiatives focused on Paralympic sports serve as bridges to autonomy and social inclusion. According to Fabíola Campos, supervisor of the Paralympic Reference Center at ISD, the experience transforms the patients' daily lives.

“This is a very important moment for our users, where they can experience the atmosphere of an official competition. Furthermore, it reinforces the importance of Paralympic sport for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities, as it provides opportunities for social integration and interaction with high-performance athletes,” highlights the supervisor.

The Loterias Caixa Paralympic Meeting is itinerant and will visit all the Federative Units of the country until August, when the final stage will be held in São Paulo (SP). Ten capitals have already hosted the circuit since April. The marks obtained by the athletes in Natal are valid for the national rankings, serving as a classification criterion for events such as the School and University Paralympic Games.

Check out the performance of ISD users at the Paralympic Meeting – Natal Stage: 

• Ana Lourdes de Brito Silva – Gold in the 60M (intercenter) event | Gold in the Pelota Lance;
• Glaucia Valentina de Lima Fonseca – Gold in the 60M (intercenter) event | Gold in the Pelota Lap;
• Álvaro de Lima Miranda – Silver in Shot Put (under 17) | Silver in Discus Throw;
• Francisco Samuel – Gold in Shot Put (under 17) | Gold in Javelin Throw;
• Francisco da Silva – Gold in the 100M event (under 17) | Gold in the 200M event;
• Heitor Manoel Lins de Melo – Gold in the 60M event (under 14) | Gold in the Pelota Lance;
• Ítalo José Lins de Melo – Gold in Lan. Pelota (under 14) | Gold in the 60M event;
• Marília Vitória Gonzaga da Silva Souza – Gold in Shot Put (under 17) | Gold in Discus Throw;
• Emerson de Araújo Oliveira – Silver in Shot Put (open) | Bronze in Javelin Throw;
• Renato Reginaldo Xavier – Gold in Shot Put (absolute) | Silver in Javelin Throw;
• Francisco Janderlei Medeiros da Silva – Silver in Shot Put (absolute) | Bronze in Javelin Throw;
• Francisco de Assis Tomaz – Gold in Shot Put (absolute) | 4th place in Javelin Throw;
• Hildenyr Daniel Oliveira – Gold in Shot Put (absolute) | Gold in Javelin Throw;
• Alisson Sousa da Silva – Silver in Shot Put (absolute) | Silver in Javelin Throw;
• Darillyn Kethellen De Sousa Firmino – Gold in Shot Put (under 17) | Gold in the 400M race. 

parasport

Since 2023, the ISD has been accredited by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB) and offers access to Paralympic sports through the Paralympic Reference Center, located in Macaíba, for children and adults from all over the state. Currently, the service includes free assessments and training in boccia and athletics, as well as adapted sports activities for Institute users and their families. 

About ISD

The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) is a Social Organization of the Federal Executive Branch, supervised by the Ministry of Education, with the intervention of the Ministry of Sport. It encompasses the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience and the Anita Garibaldi Center for Education and Research in Health, both located in Macaíba. The ISD's mission is to promote education for life, forming citizens through integrated teaching, research, and outreach activities, as well as contributing to a more just and humane transformation of Brazilian social reality.