Ana Marcela Cunha surprised when she announced on the eve of last year’s Aquatic Sports World Cup the break with coach Fernando Possenti, with whom she was Olympic champion and with whom she had a winning partnership ten years ago. The Brazilian moved to Italy with Juliana Melhem, his wife and physical trainer, and started training on coach Fabrizio Antonelli’s team. In an exclusive interview with Olimpíada Todo Dia, the swimmer spoke about her expectations for Paris-2024, revealing that she thought about giving up everything and retiring, but that now she is happy and looking to remain competitive in a lighter way.
“We can make history and have a second Olympic championship, but I want to be happy and I’m feeling good. I went through a lot and, only I know what I went through, I’m still in the sport. I reached a point in my life when I said: ‘I don’t want it anymore’. I felt the support from whoever I needed, from whoever was by my side, and I managed to come back and be where I am. What I work on a lot with my psychologist is to be well, to be happy. It’s about being at high performance, it’s about going through the pain that we have to go through, but in a peaceful and happy way like I have been doing”, says the Olympic water marathon champion.
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“Everyone thinks that after the Olympic gold there is only glory, but there is the other side too, which is everyone thinks that, just because you were an Olympic champion that you have to win everything for the rest of your life and that’s not the case. ”, said the swimmer.
Examples
Ana Marcela Cunha revealed that she has used as an example the Brazilian women who won the Olympic gold medal in two consecutive editions of the Games. “The greatest example for us athletes are the two-time Olympic champions in volleyball and sailing because being one is difficult, but being two times is even more difficult. Staying at a high level is even more important. But no one has any idea what a professional athlete goes through, what we experience every day”, believes the swimmer, who wants to emulate the way sailors Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze live their lives.
“Perhaps the biggest difference between those who have been two-time champions and are fighting again to, who knows, become three-time champions are the sailing girls. They know how to live, they know how to have a life together with sport. Often, they go a year without competing together. Often each one follows a different path during the cycle and then they come together again. So, there has to be a balance. I think that many times I was a bit of a horse and sometimes I stopped living a little. And I’m allowing myself this and seeing that, even allowing myself to do so, I can maintain high performance. That’s why I want to continue,” she explains.
Shoulder injury
Soon after becoming Olympic champion, Ana Marcela Cunha did not take her foot off the accelerator. In 2022, she won gold in the 25km It is 5km It is bronze in the 10km. Furthermore, it became six-time champion of the open water world circuit. The problem, however, was that she He injured his shoulder and had to undergo surgery.
“I had a lot of trepidation, fear… I had to believe a lot and do all the work necessary so that I could return in the best possible way, as quickly as possible”, explains Ana Marcela Cunha, who, after returning to compete, did not worry about regarding the results until she was feeling completely recovered.
“I didn’t worry during this recovery period about coming back and winning a medal. I worried about doing the recovery as it had to be done to think about the end of a cycle. If I had been in a hurry to win a medal at the last World Cup, which was an obligation or something like that, perhaps I would have gone beyond what I was supposed to do. I believe that bronze in the two 5km races (at the World Championships) 2023 It is 2024) were the medals that had to happen. At no point did I charge myself for any result other than the Olympic place in the 10 km“.
Heading to Paris
Little by little, however, Ana Marcela Cunha is regaining her confidence to arrive at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in a position to fight for the podium and, who knows, for her dream second title. “I started to understand my expectations about what I have done. That’s why I’m still improving even with the surgery, regardless of not winning everything, but I’m still at a high level, I’m still fighting on equal terms despite going through everything I’ve been through. So, this for me is very gratifying. What everyone has been asking me is: ‘How long will Ana go?’. I have responded: ‘As long as Ana is happy’. That’s the most important thing for me.”
Founder and content director of Olimpíada Todo Dia
