Sport in Brazil
It is said that Brazil has some of the most beautiful people on Earth and, honestly, I would have to agree but they are not just a bunch of beautiful people. They are also one of the craziest people when it comes to sports.
Brazil football fanWho in the mixed martial arts world do not know the name Gracie? Jiu jitsu is not originally from Brazil unlike capoeira but it is a Brazilian by the name of Hélio Gracie that made it known to the world. These two are just some of the traditional sports of Brazil but recently; Brazilians have gone crazy over football and why not? They have only won the FIFA World Cup 5 times. This is a feat that not a lot of country can even come close to and while most countries can't even qualify for the FIFA World Cup, Brazil does it each and every time. With players like Kaká, Garrincha, Ronaldo, Romário, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, and Pele, one of the all time world record holder for scoring, in their roster, it is not so hard to believe.
Other sports like basketball, tennis and volleyball are also big in Brazil and they have a lot of athletes who have made it big in the international stage too like Maria Esther Bueno, who won seven singles titles (4 US Opens and 3 Wimbledon) and twelve doubles (5 Wimbledon, 4 US Open, 2 Roland Garros and 1 Australian Open).
When it comes to volleyball, their men and women's team have quite an achievements' list too. Their men's volleyball team has 2 gold and 3 silver Olympic medals, a 3-time World Championships gold medalist, 2-time World Cup winners, 9-time FIVB World League champions, and 4-time Volleyball Grand Champions Cup winners. Their women's team is also quite a powerhouse taking home 2 gold and 2 bronze Olympic medals, 3 World Championship silver medals, 10-time FIVB World Grand Prix winners and 2-time Volleyball Grand Champions Cup winners.
Brazil has been participating in the Summer Olympic Games since 1920 except in the 1928 Games. Brazilians have taken home a total of 108 Olympic medals with volleyball, sailing and judo as their most successful events. They have been competing in the Winter Olympic Games since 1992 but are yet to take home any medals from it. Also, Rio de Janeiro is the venue for the 2016 Olympics.
Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Brazil.
Popular sports of Brazil (see more)
Traditional or Regional Sports
- Brazilian Jiu-jitsu — a combat sport from Brazil based on ground fighting and submission holds, developed from judo and jujutsu.
- Capoeira — a form of martial art from Brazil which has a combination of aspects of dance moves, acrobatics, movements and music.
- Footvolley — like beach volleyball though you can only use your feet.
- Peteca — played by hitting the shuttlecock with your hand over a high net.
- Biribol — an aquatic version of volleyball developed in Brazil.
Brazil Sporting Success
- Brazil won the FIFA World Cup in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
Great athletes from Brazil
- Pelé (football)
- Ronaldinho (football)
- Ronaldo (football)
- Kaká (football)
- Ayrton Senna (motorsports)
- Maria Bruneo (tennis)
Brazil Sports trivia
- Brazil made its first appearance in Winter Olympics at Albertville in 1992.
- Brazil has produced three Formula One world champions: Emerson Fittipaldi (1972 and 1974), Nelson Piquet (1981, 1983 and 1987) and Ayrton Senna (1988, 1990 and 1991).
- Maria Bueno is the greatest female tennis player in Brazilian history and the only Latin American of either sex to win a singles title at the All England Club Wimbledon.
- Brazil first competed at the Olympic Games in 1920.
- In 2016, the Brazillian city of Rio will become the first South American city to host the Olympic Games.
Brazil at major events
- Brazil at the Summer Olympics
- Brazil at the Winter Olympics
- Brazil at the FIFA World Cup
- Brazil women's football team at the FIFA Women's World Cup
- Brazil at the Copa América
Past sporting events hosted in Brazil
- 1950 FIFA World Cup was hosted in Brazil
- 2014 FIFA World Cup will be hosted in Brazil
- 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio
- 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio
- 2017 Lusophony Games to be held in Fortaleza, Brazil
- 2019 Summer Universiade in Brazilia.
- 2021 Copa América
Upcoming sporting events in Brazil
- 2027 Women's FIFA World Cup will be hosted in Brazil
- 2031 World Beach Games, Rio
Annual sporting events held in Brazil
Sporting Facilities in Brazil
- Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho (Maracanã stadium), Rio
Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let me know.
Related Pages
- List of the most popular sports in Brazil
- sports videos about 'Brazil '
- Countries list
- World of Sport Home
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