Marina Dias wins an unprecedented gold for Brazil at the World Paraclimbing Championships

Marina Dias from São Paulo made history on Thursday (10) by winning an unprecedented gold medal for her country at the World Paraclimbing Championships, in Bern (Switzerland). In her first participation in the World Championships, the Brazilian won the competition in the RP3 category (athletes with slight limitations in reach and strength), leaving behind Britain’s Christiane Lutkhuizen and Dutch Martha Evans, taking silver and bronze, respectively. This season alone, Marina Dias has reached the podium three more times at World Cup stages. He won gold in Salt Lake City (USA) and Innsbruck (Austria), and bronze in Villars (Switzerland).

Marina Dias was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune degenerative disease. She used to run, but in 2009 the left side of her body became ill. In search of other physical activities, Marina ended up falling in love with climbing.

After a three-year drought, Brazil once again sent representatives to the Paraclimbing World Cup. In addition to Marina Dias, the national delegation also includes newcomers Luciano Frasão, in the AL 2 category (athletes who have had one of their lower limbs amputated or suffer from severe mobility impairment), and Leonardo Velha, in AU3 (weakness in at least one of the lower limbs). hands, or with the loss of several fingers or with decreased motor function).

Although climbing has already been included in the Olympic program for the Tokyo Games (Japan) and continues for the Paris 2024 Games, skydiving has not yet been included in the list of Paralympic sports. At the beginning of 2023, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed 22 sports for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, leaving open the possibility of skyclimbing and kitesurfing being included, for the first time, from Los Angeles 2028 onwards, if both are nominated. Both sports. By the organizing committee. The IOC’s final decision will be made by the end of this year.