Fernando FERNANDES DE PADUA (BRA)
Brazil
Age:
43 years
Federation:
BRAZILIAN CANOE CONFEDERATION
Biography
Further Personal Information
PREV. NAMES
Fernando FERNANDES, FERNANDO PADUA
PLACE OF RESIDENCE
São Paulo, BRA
WHEN/WHERE DID YOU START CANOEING/ KAYAKING?
He took up canoeing in December 2009 following his accident earlier that year.
REASON FOR TAKING UP THE SPORT
"I was born for sport. I always played all the sports I could. After the accident, I got involved in various Paralympic sports until I found myself in canoeing. When I sat in the kayak, I regained my freedom and had the sensation of ability I thought I had lost. I saw that I was on equal terms with everyone and I perceived I had an enormous responsibility to spread this message and contribute to the sport's growth.”
OTHER INFORMATION
Before his accident, he embarked on a career as an international model and was once invited by a modelling agency to move to New York, United States of America. He also became well-known in Brazil after participating in the Brazilian edition of reality television show Big Brother in 2002. (rio2016.com, 14 Jan 2014; fernandofernandeslife.com, 26 Apr 2016)
OTHER INFORMATION
He played football professionally at age 17 but a year later he was drafted into the Brazilian army. (fernandofernandeslife.com, 26 Apr 2016)
