Maciel de Souza Santos is one of the biggest names in Paralympic bocce in Brazil and around the world.
His medals are proof of this, after all, in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Paralympics, Maciel won medals.
It’s also worth mentioning that the athlete is ranked first in the world in his category and is the current bocce World Cup champion.
The athlete started practicing paralympic bocce at the age of 11 and joined the Brazilian national team at the age of 14.
To find out more about this Brazilian who is a success inside and outside our country, keep reading this complete profile, with everything about Maciel de Souza Santos’ career, titles and life story.
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Who is Maciel de Souza Santos?
Maciel de Souza Santos is a Brazilian paralympic athlete who specializes in bocce. Born in 1985, Maciel competes in the BC2 class, for athletes with cerebral palsy who have good trunk and arm control. He is number one in the world rankings in his category and is the current bocce World Cup champion.
The athlete began practicing the sport as a child and has become one of Brazil’s biggest names in paralympic bocce today, winning national and international titles and representing Brazil masterfully in various competitions. He has even won three Paralympic medals.
Maciel is known for his technical skill, his ability to remain calm under pressure and his incredible accuracy in his throws, characteristics that have made him one of the best bocce players in the world.
| In the rules of paralympic bocce, all athletes compete in wheelchairs. In the functional classification, they are divided into four classes, according to the degree of disability and whether or not they need assistance. – BC1 Option of help from helpers (they can stabilize or adjust the player’s chair and deliver the ball when requested). – BC2 Cannot receive assistance. – BC3 Very severe disabilities. They use an auxiliary instrument and can be helped by another person. – BC4 Other severe disabilities, but do not receive assistance. |
What is Maciel de Souza Santos’ story?
Maciel de Souza Santos was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that affected his mobility From a young age, Maciel found sport as a way of expressing himself and overcoming the limitations imposed by his condition.
Maciel started practicing paralympic bocce in his hometown at the age of 11, after being introduced to the sport by rehabilitation professionals.
Initially, he saw the sport as a form of leisure and therapy, but soon realized that he had a natural talent for the sport.
Over the years, Maciel improved his skills and took part in more and more important competitions, until he reached international level and joined the Brazilian national team.
Since 2012, he has been one of the athletes representing Brazil in the sport, contributing directly to the country’s success and to our team becoming a benchmark in the sport.
Maciel de Souza Santos’ main achievements
As we said above, Maciel de Souza Santos is one of the biggest names in paralympic bocce in Brazil and around the world.
The athlete has established himself among the greatest by winning an impressive list of titles, such as those listed below:
- Gold in the individual BC2 and BC1/BC2 teams at the Parapan American Games in Santiago 2023
- Individual gold at the Bocce World Cup in Rio de Janeiro 2022
- Team gold at the 2021 America’s Cup
- Individual bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
- Individual gold and team silver at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games
- Silver in pairs at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
- Individual and team gold at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games
- Individual gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games
At the last World Championships, Maciel won two more: one individual and one team medal. This shows that even with all his experience, the athlete is still among the best in the world and has everything it takes to win many more prizes and expand his medal list!
What records does Maciel de Souza Santos hold?
Maciel de Souza Santos has a career full of achievements and records. His main achievements include:
- Gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where he won the title in the individual BC2 category.
- Multiple medals in World Bocce Championships, solidifying his position as one of the best players in the sport.
- Several national titles, making him one of the leading names in Brazilian bocce and an example of excellence in the sport.
In addition to these titles, Maciel continues to break personal records and seek out new achievements, always aiming to outdo himself and take Brazil to the top of the podium.
Curiosities about Maciel de Souza Santos
In addition to his sporting achievements, Maciel de Souza Santos has a life full of curiosities and interesting moments. Here are some of them:
- Maciel is known for his leadership spirit and often acts as a mentor for young athletes starting out in paralympic boccia. He believes in the importance of passing on knowledge and helping to train the next generation of athletes.
- Outside of the bocce courts, Maciel is a great music lover. He enjoys playing the guitar and believes that music plays a fundamental role in his well-being and concentration during competitions.
- Maciel takes part in various social projects that promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport. He believes that sport is a powerful tool for transforming lives and is fighting for more people to have access to paralympic sports.
Maciel de Souza Santos has had a career full of titles and unforgettable moments, and remains one of the biggest names in world paralympic boccia. His legacy will certainly continue to influence and motivate future generations of athletes.
Now that you know more about the story of Maciel de Souza Santos, take the opportunity to learn all about the careers of other Brazilian sporting idols:
- Petrucio Ferreira: titles and records of the paralympic athlete
- Gabriel Araújo: the career of the Paralympic swimming multi-champion
- Carol Santiago: the multi-time Paralympic swimming champion!🥇
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