Brazil’s President Lula Celebrates Olympic Athletes in Brasilia

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday met with nearly three dozen athletes from the nation’s Olympic delegation in the capital Brasilia. The athletes had recently returned from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games where Brazil won a total of 20 medals.

Of the 20 medals won by Brazil, three were gold, seven silver, and 10 bronze. Almost all of the 276 Brazilian athletes who competed are current or former beneficiaries of the federal government’s Athlete Grant welfare program. Lula commended the athletes and highlighted the importance of public investment in sports to provide opportunities for underprivileged children.

During the meeting at the Planalto presidential palace, Lula stated, “I’m going to mark today as a new era in the practice of sport in this country. I want to help this country be a country that bets big on kids who dedicate themselves to practicing sport.”

He emphasized that the athletes present serve as role models for millions of Brazilian boys and girls and even invited two skateboarders to showcase their skills by performing kickflips on the marble floor of the presidential palace.

Notably, gymnast Rebeca Andrade, Brazil’s most-decorated Olympian with six medals, was not in attendance at the ceremony. Andrade, a friend and competitor of U.S. superstar Simone Biles, made history in Paris by winning multiple medals for Brazil.

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