A SWIMMING PERSON who died at the age of 37 won five medals at three Paralympics.
Brazilian Joana Neves had a heart attack early yesterday morning. She had been taken to the hospital on Sunday night because she was feeling sick.
After having fits, she went to the city of Sao Paulo for tests.
Joana, also known as Peixinha (which means “Little Fish” in English) or Joaninha, was born with achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that makes people short because of a genetic change in their arms and legs.
Between 2013 and 2022, she won a total of 15 medals in the world paralympic swimming championships. She started swimming competitively when she was 10 years old because her doctor told her to.
Three Paralympics were held, and she won two silver medals and three bronze medals. These were in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020.
The President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, Mizael Conrado, paid tribute to the athlete, who was from the city of Natal in the northeastern state of Rio Grande do Norte. He said, “We are devastated by the departure of Joana Neves, our Joaninha.”
“She had so much charm when she wasn’t in the pool, and she was so determined when she got in to swim for our country, Rio Grande do Norte, her friends, and her family.”
“How many people were proud of what Joaninha did, and how many good things she did for us.” She was very good at sports.
That she had died, her club Sadef RN said in a statement yesterday: “Parathlete swimmer Joana Neves died this morning in Sao Paulo.”
“She was in the city getting tests to try to figure out what was wrong with her after having seizures recently.”
“She felt sick at the Paralympic Training Center on Sunday night and was taken to the hospital, but she couldn’t fight it after having a heart attack.”
A club spokesman also said, “She won four medals and broke two records at the last World Cup in 2022.”
“Between 2013 and 2022, she finished on the podium 15 times at the World Cup.”
“She was named Brazil’s best Paralympic swimmer in the best swimming trophy in 2020.” At the Paralympics, she won five medals.
In a personal tribute on social media, one person who liked the post added, “What a very sad day.” Please know that I’m sorry for your loss.
“Our sport has lost a great player.” She leaves behind a huge amount of history, but most of all, she leaves us with memories of her joy.
