 Almeida and Landgraf at the 2016 Paralympics | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 August 1977 Santa Isabel do Ivaí, Brazil |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics, sailing |
Marinalva de Almeida (born 27 August 1977) is a Brazilian Paralympic athlete and model.
| Almeida and Landgraf at the 2016 Paralympics | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 August 1977 Santa Isabel do Ivaí, Brazil |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics, sailing |
Marinalva de Almeida (born 27 August 1977) is a Brazilian Paralympic athlete and model.
Almeida was born in Santa Isabel do Ivaí, Paraná in 1977. She and her five siblings moved away when she was four. [1] When she was fifteen and living in Mato Grosso do Sul she had her leg amputated as the result of a car accident. She had borrowed a boy's bike and a car had crushed her leg. Although amputation was the doctors proposed action her mother refused them permission. Her sister's intercession allowed the operation to be performed. [1] As a part of her recovery she tried various sports. A year later she married and had three children in São Paulo state. [2]
She was introduced to sport by a friend who persuaded her to enter a race. She then took a gymnastics course at Senai. An early race was one designed for amputees who at that time completed the 10 km race using crutches. [3] In 2012 she completed a 15 km course on crutches. [2]
Almeida competed in sailing at the 2016 Paralympics, together with Bruno Landgraf. They placed eighth in the Skud 18 class. [4]
