kids encyclopedia robot

Thiago Braz facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Thiago Braz
Thiago Braz em 2021 (crop).jpg
Personal information
Born (1993-12-16) 16 December 1993 (age 31)
Marília, São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 75 kg (165 lb)
Sport
Country Brazil
Sport Athletics
Event(s) Pole vault
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
  • Pole vault: 6.03 m (2016)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Brazil
Olympic Games
Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro Pole vault
Bronze 2020 Tokyo Pole vault
World Indoor Championships
Silver 2022 Belgrade Pole vault
Youth Olympics
Silver 2010 Singapore Pole vault
World Junior Championships
Gold 2012 Barcelona Pole vault

Thiago Braz da Silva (born December 16, 1993) is a Brazilian athlete. He is famous for the pole vault, a sport where athletes use a long pole to jump over a high bar. Thiago once held the Olympic record for pole vault, reaching 6.03 meters. He won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Thiago's Amazing Career in Pole Vault

Thiago Braz has had an exciting career filled with many achievements. He started competing at a young age and quickly showed his talent.

Early Victories and Records

In 2012, Thiago won a gold medal at the World Junior Championships. This was a big win for him as a young athlete.

The next year, in 2013, he became the South American champion. He set a new outdoor record for the area, jumping 5.83 meters. In 2015, he broke his own record, reaching 5.92 meters in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In 2016, he set a new indoor South American record. He jumped 5.93 meters in Berlin, Germany. These early successes set the stage for his biggest moments.

Olympic Gold in Rio 2016

One of Thiago's most memorable moments was at the 2016 Olympic Games in his home country, Brazil. On August 15, 2016, he competed in the men's pole vault final in Rio de Janeiro. He was up against Renaud Lavillenie from France, who was the world record holder and the previous Olympic champion.

Both athletes cleared 5.93 meters. Then, Thiago made a bold choice. Instead of trying 5.98 meters, he decided to skip that height and go straight for 6.03 meters. He successfully cleared 6.03 meters on his second try, setting a new Olympic Record! Lavillenie could not clear this height, and Thiago won the gold medal. This jump was 10 centimeters higher than his previous best.

Bronze Medal in Tokyo 2020

After his big win in Rio, Thiago continued to train hard. He competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Even though he wasn't the top favorite, people knew he could still win a medal.

He easily qualified for the final. In the final, he showed great skill, clearing heights like 5.70 and 5.80 meters. When he reached 5.87 meters, he cleared it on his first attempt. This was a very important jump. His strong performance helped him secure a bronze medal. This was his second Olympic medal in a row, which is a rare achievement for a Brazilian athlete.

World Championship Success

In 2022, Thiago achieved another milestone at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. He won his first medal at a World Championship event, taking home the silver. He jumped 5.95 meters, setting a new indoor South American record.

Later that year, at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, he finished in 4th place. This was the best result ever for a Brazilian pole vaulter at the World Championships.

A Recent Challenge

In July 2023, Thiago faced a challenge related to a rule violation. He was temporarily suspended from competing. After a review, he was given a suspension that ended on November 27, 2024. Thiago has stated he plans to appeal this decision.

Thiago's Best Jumps

Here are Thiago's personal best jumps:

  • Pole vault (outdoor): 6.03 m – Achieved in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 15, 2016. This is his Olympic record jump.
  • Pole vault (indoor): 5.95 m – Achieved in Belgrade, Serbia, on March 20, 2022. This is his indoor South American record.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Thiago Braz da Silva para niños

kids search engine
Thiago Braz Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.