Eyeing the podium: Maria Eduarda Muccuci
By Mariana Sá and Helena Petry - inMaria Eduarda Miccuci started artistic swimming at her father's suggestion. Unfamiliar with the sport, she was captivated and decided she wanted to pursue it. Since then, she's competed in the Brazilian Championships, South American Championships, World Championships, a Pan American Championship, and the Olympics at home. She's won so many competitions, medals, and memories she'll cherish forever.
In 2017, swimming gave Maria the strength she needed to overcome depression, which nearly led her to give up everything. Wearing the Sacred Mantle, the athlete had the support of her teammates and coaching staff to keep fighting. And she's glad she did. About to compete in another Pan American Games, Duda dreams of bringing home her first medal competing alongside her sister.
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.
Beginnings in artistic swimming
I lived in João Pessoa for two years and started synchronized swimming there. It was in 2007, when my father told me about the sport. I wasn't familiar with it, but there was one near my house, so I tried it out. However, swimming was still very weak there at the time, and the following year I moved to Rio. When I arrived, I trained at Fluminense and began competing and improving. That's how I began to consider doing it professionally.
Arrival at Flamengo
In 2016, I had problems with my former club, and my sister (Laura) was already at Flamengo. So she was a big influence on me coming here. The following year, I ended up joining the club.
A defining moment at Flamengo
My first Brazilian Championship in 2017 was the most memorable moment. I was depressed and going through a difficult time. The girls and the coaching staff really helped me recover and overcome it all. I thought I'd lost all my spark for artistic swimming and a number of other things, as happens when you're depressed, but I discovered so many people on my side, both inside and outside. So this Brazilian Championship ended up being very important to me.
Daily routine
It varies a lot. When I'm with the national team, I train four times a week in the morning and have the afternoon free, going to school at night. I'm studying statistics at college. We also do an afternoon activity twice a week.
When it's just Flamengo, we only have training in the afternoon. So I can wake up, go to college, go to the club, and then go back to class.
Difficulties of being a high-performance athlete
The lack of support and sponsorship. Swimming isn't a well-known sport in Brazil, so that's a bit of a hindrance. Also, knowing how to balance training with personal and academic life. The person I started college with, for example, already graduated, and it will take me a few years to get one. But you eventually learn to deal with it.
Main competitions and preparation
The main competitions in 2019 are the World Aquatics Championships, which just ended, the Pan American Games in Lima, and the Brazilian Championships. There may be another international tournament, but it's not confirmed. We're aiming for a medal at the Pan American Games, as we narrowly missed out on fourth place in the last one. So we're training hard to get that bronze. We're fully focused on this achievement.
Family structure
I live with my father, my sister and my two dogs.
Idols
Bruno Schmidt, a beach volleyball player. I've known him since he was little, having played the sport for a while and watched him grow up, from being short for the sport to always fighting against it, to becoming an Olympic champion.
Hobbies
I like going to the beach, being with my family and traveling.
Other sports besides swimming
I like to follow all sports (laughs). If something's on, I'm watching. I like to see everything; sometimes I see someone competing and root for them to win, feeling like I'm winning too.
Free time
I rest most of the time, I take the opportunity to meet my family and I always try to be with my friends.
Technical sheet
Name: Maria Eduarda de Souza Miccuci
Age: 24 years
Height: 1,85m
Place of Birth: Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ
Main achievements: Participation in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, one Pan-American (Toronto 2015), three Senior World Championships (finalist in all), two Junior World Championships (finalist in one), three Senior South American Championships (nine times champion), two Junior South American Championships (six times gold), several Brazilian Championships and many Cariocas.