At the height of his 58 years, Nilton Alonço, better known in sports circles as Gauchinho, recently achieved the best position of the Brazilian rowing team, securing the silver medal for the boat Oito Com, at the XV Pan American Games Rio-2007.
This was Gauchinho's third time competing in the Pan American Games. The helmsman's last Pan American appearance was 20 years ago, at the 1987 Indianapolis Pan American Games, where he also won a silver medal with the Oito Com boat. In Caracas in 1983, Gauchinho secured two silver medals for Brazil, but with the Quatro Com crew.
"It's wonderful to win this medal after so long. Very satisfying indeed!" said the enthusiastic helmsman, who has been with Flamengo's Clube de Regatas since 1969, bringing joy to fans of the Rio de Janeiro club's most traditional sport.
Medals, titles, victories, and achievements... There are so many in Nilton Alonço's glorious career that he even allows himself to "forget" some. When surprised by the question "how many titles you have won in your career," Gauchinho stopped, gave a smirk, scratched his head, and said:
- "Wow, that's a lot! I participated in eight international regattas in the Flamengo Masters category; I won the Brazilian championship eight times; I won the South American rowing championship six times and I competed in four World Championships, being a finalist (6th place) in the 86 edition, with the boat Dois Com."
In addition to all those mentioned by him, Gauchinho can still add to his vast curriculum, his participation in the Olympics (Montreal-1976 – 10th place / Los Angeles-1984 – 4th place, the best placement ever achieved by Brazil in the Olympics / Seoul-1988 – 13th place), in the Americas Championship (1973) and in the Latin Cup (1976).
The brilliance of an athlete that reflects as a coach.
Gauchinho doesn't just shine as a helmsman. As the coach responsible for the CRF women's masters team, he also won the first title at the 1th South American Women's Masters Rowing Meeting, held in Porto Alegre in 2006.
Alongside Marcos Amorim, Nilton Alonço has been a successful double act in state regattas. Both are responsible for the excellent performance of the red-and-black rowers in the State Championship.
Photo: Disclosure