Eyeing the podium: Diana Barcelos

By Mariana Sá and Helena Petry - in 19/07/2019 às 16:45

Rowing came late in Diana Barcelos's life. After an accident in 2014, she lost part of her right leg and decided to pursue something different. She began her career in adapted sailing, which almost earned her a spot at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. However, Diana decided to make another change and is now a two-time world champion, has been included in the rankings of the best para-rowing athletes, and still has many dreams ahead.

With her sights set on the World Cup and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Diana relies on the support of her family and Flamengo's infrastructure to achieve her ultimate goal. Training hard, she overcomes the barriers imposed by her disability and the challenges of being a high-performance para-athlete to represent the Brazilian National Team and her favorite team.

In the series "Eye on the Podium," Flamengo's official website tells the stories of some of the club's and Brazil's top athletes, covering their personal lives, careers, and, of course, their favorite. Learn more about those who make Flamengo and Brazil's Olympic sports stronger.

Beginning of rowing

Rowing actually arose from a need to practice a sport. I had already done disabled sailing and tried to qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympics, but I didn't make it. So I started looking for a sport I could relate to so I wouldn't become too sedentary. Canoeing or rowing came to mind. Fred (Frédéric Mallrich), who is now my coach here, contacted me saying he was forming a social rowing project for people with disabilities. So I started training with him in June 2016.

Before, I only trained twice a week, but since then, I've been training regularly, and it's only increased. That same year, I won medals at the Brazilian Championships, followed by a bronze medal at an indoor rowing championship. In 2017, I won gold at the South American Championships and the World Championships in the United States.

Arrival at Flamengo

Fred's project was at another club, Master do Guanabara, and he received an invitation to work at Flamengo. He immediately inquired about the possibility of bringing him here, and then everyone came along.

Most memorable moment at the club

Last year, when I was already training for Flamengo, I won our second World Cup in Bulgaria with my partner Jairo (Klug), who trains in São Paulo. It was incredibly special, as I was coming back from an injury, and if I hadn't been here with all the facilities the club provides, I might not have recovered well enough to make it to the competition.

Daily routine

I train Monday through Saturday, usually in the morning. In the afternoon, I usually do something at home, since I live far away. We also do strength training two or three times at the club.

Biggest challenges of being a high-performance athlete

The routine. I can speak best about high performance within the Paralympics. The competitions are very spaced out, we don't have the same workload as the Olympians. We still need that extra space. Staying at the top is a daily exercise in resilience, as we have to train and maintain a routine knowing that we'll only compete at the end of the year. That's the biggest challenge: staying active with few tournaments.

Main competitions and expectations for Tokyo 2020

This is the biggest year and the one I've been waiting for since I started rowing. We'll have the World Championships in Austria, which will be a qualifier for the Tokyo Paralympics. I'll be competing in the Four With boat, which is a mixed crew of four people plus the coxswain. It's a new category, but we'll do our best to secure a spot.

I always think about the Games. When I walked in and watched the Rio 2016 opening ceremonies, I told myself I'd be there for the next edition. It wasn't sailing, as the sport was removed from the program, but Fred said it was a possibility, and I have the potential to be in the group for the next cycle. We made this agreement with Tokyo next year in mind.

Rowing is a really tough sport. Sometimes I get a little serious and tense, because it's the main competition and the one I've been training for, waiting for since 2016. I'm really looking forward to it, training hard, and knowing that now is the time to not let up.

Difficulties of being an athlete with a disability

Before my accident in 2014, I played sports as a teenager, but I stopped, went to work, and did other things. I came back later. People always told me I was strong and big, so I could play. However, I thought I was already old, as I was 25 when I lost my leg. I realized that the Paralympic sport opened doors for me in every way. It's not just about playing sports and overcoming challenges; it's almost like a daily dose of therapy. It brings me so much joy, like being able to represent Brazil and feel immense satisfaction, putting the country on the top step of the podium.

There are challenges, as it's extremely expensive to adapt a prosthetic device for rowing. It takes time to get support and often doesn't arrive. Sometimes you don't have enough money to maintain it.

Family

I have a beautiful nephew, Benjamin. He turns two in August. My whole family lives in Maricá, and I'm staying here in Rio at an acquaintance's house. I love them all very much and am there whenever possible, but I spend more time with the rowing people here because of the distance. Everyone is very supportive. My mother always cries. I won the 2018 Paralympic Award in the sport with Jairo, and she filmed it, cried a lot, and I kept telling her it wasn't necessary (laughs). They are my foundation and my passion.

Rowing in the family

I met my grandfather quite late, as my grandparents separated when my mother was very young. My grandmother was talking to me about how funny it is that things skip a generation and told me he was a rower. He used to cross between Mauá and Paquetá in a race. My mother wanted nothing to do with the sport, and then it ended up with me. I told my grandmother it was really cool and funny how things happen. My grandfather died recently; he had a very athletic build.

Idols

I'm in love with Zico, especially because he's a Pisces like me. Although I know very little about rowing, there's a rower from Belarus named Ekaterina Karsten who's been in the sport for many years and has competed in the Olympic Games since 1992. She's now 47 and continues to row at a high level. She's a role model for women, because staying in such a demanding sport for so long is difficult.

I always say that Fred, my coach, is a guy I admire greatly. He's an example of resilience and perseverance. He's very hands-on, and so am I. He's a guy who encourages me a lot, got me into the sport, and is very patient.

Hobbies

I'm crazy about cinema. If I could, I would study it. I have a degree in history, but I'd like to go to college just for cinema. Besides that, I love reading, going to museums, concerts, and music.

Other modalities

I used to be more into soccer and Flamengo; I even had a poster of their three-time Carioca championships. I don't follow them as much anymore. But rowing has given me the opportunity to expand my horizons and see more. One sport I find really cool is artistic and rhythmic gymnastics. I stop by the club and watch them practice. I often turn on the TV and watch whatever's on. Canoeing—now I watch the World Aquatics Championships too.

Technical sheet

Name: Diana Barcelos

Age: 31 years

Height: 1,78cm

Place of Birth: Rio de Janeiro

Main achievements: Two World Championships (2017 in the United States and 2018 in Bulgaria). These were incredibly moving achievements, and I'll cherish them forever. It was indescribable.