"Believe me because I have a dream!"
- Mayra Santos world record holder for countercurrent static swimming
Mayra Santos reached the absolute world record for static countercurrent swimming, swimming for 31 hours and 07 minutes in a row, on November 6, 2020, on Madeira Island (Portugal).
Having managed, on the same day, to surpass the female world record of more than 24 consecutive hours swimming against the current.
Mayra Santos and the achievement of a dream
Born in Minas Gerais, Brazil, this 41-year-old athlete chose Madeira Island (Portugal), more than a decade ago, to live and raise a family.
It was here, on Madeira Island, that the Portuguese-Brazilian athlete, who was never a professional swimmer, but who is passionate about swimming, embarked on her dream and managed to reach the absolute world record.
“To think as if you were in the sea”, these were the words of Mayra Santos before entering the pool with a smile on her lips and with the strength and determination that characterize her.
The athlete started her race at 10 am on November 5 and finished at 17:07 on November 6, 2020, completing the 31 hours and 07 minutes, never stopping, swimming in countercurrent generated by turbines installed inside a pool.
During the race, Mayra had the unconditional and constant support of family members, friends spread all over the world and all those who got together and watched livestreaming, through the channel naminhaterra.com, with messages and videos of encouragement.
From stroke to stroke, overcoming pain, cold and tiredness, Mayra swam, sang and even samba towards the achievement of a dream. And the dream has been achieved!
The swimmer won another title, showing that persistence, dedication and commitment are the key to success in any sport, and raising the name of Madeira Island to the highest level in the world.
With a contagious joy, Mayra Santos is a true “force of nature” and a born ambassador of the sport.
Mayra Santos' journey is an example of resilience. Challenged to participate in the open water competitions, in 2019, she became the first woman to cross the islands of Porto Santo and Madeira (Portugal), in a total of 42 km, completed in 12 hours 07 minutes and 20 seconds.
Your commitment, persistence and dedication are a source of inspiration for everyone to believe that dreams have no limits.
Solidarity
The broadcast in its entirety and in livestreaming was followed by thousands of people all over the world, which allowed to give the event a solidary character.
The struggle for the dream thus joined with solidarity. For Mayra Santos, that was the only way it made sense.
The live broadcast was the perfect opportunity to appeal to the help of all those who accompanied it in this challenge, through a fundraiser in favor of ACREDITAR -
Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Cancer, which consists of a network of sharing and support made by children, young people, parents and friends of children with cancer and which seeks to face in the best way the dynamics that childhood cancer imposes, trying to provide everyone with the certainty of support in a time of uncertainty.
The challenges are constant and dreams must be realized. Dedication and commitment allow us to win them over. Mayra Santos teaches us that it is necessary to believe:
“Believe! Because I have a dream! ”
