Sports in Brazil are those that are widely practiced and popular in the country, as well as others which originated there or have some cultural significance. The Brazilian people are very involved in sports. Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. One of the most influential Brazilian football players is Pelé, widely considered as the best football player of all time.
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Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament a record 5 times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002,[1] and is the only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. It is among the favourites to win the trophy every time the competition is scheduled. After Brazil won its 3rd World Cup in 1970, they were awarded the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently.
Due to the Tropical and Subtropical nature of the Climate of Brazil, it has not traditionally competed in the Winter Olympics, although it made its first appearance in the 1992 Winter Olympics, and most recently participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics. However, Brazil has been competing in the Summer Olympics since 1920. Brazil is currently ranked 33rd in the overall ranking of medals in the Summer Olympics. Here is the record of Brazilian medals in the games so far:
| Year | All | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 1924 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1932 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1936 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1948 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1952 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1960 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1964 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1968 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1972 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1976 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 1984 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| 1988 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 1992 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 15 |
| 2000 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 2004 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| 2008 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 15 |
| TOTAL | 20 | 25 | 45 | 90 |
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art marked by deft, tricky movements often played on the ground or completely inverted. It also has a strong acrobatic component in some versions and is always played with music. It is a culturally significant sport, developed in colonial times by slaves. Nowadays Capoeira is practiced internationally and found its way into popular culture through many computer games and movies.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu originated in Brazil in the 1910s, and emphasizes ground fighting techniques and submission holds involving joint-locks and chokeholds. Gracie Jiu Jitsu became known internationally in the 1990s, due to the very skilled fighters in the Gracie family, namely Hélio Gracie, Royce Gracie and Rickson Gracie, which are also responsible for spreading the practice of Vale tudo, meaning "anything goes", seen today in mixed martial arts tournaments such as PRIDE, DREAM and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Many Brazilian fighters have became significant figures in various mixed martial art tournaments abroad, including these three, and caused "Wimbledon effects" with their domination. Some notable Brazilian fighters in these tournaments include Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Vitor Belfort, Mauricio Rua, Ricardo Arona, and Lyoto Machida. Helio Gracie had a rather small build and changed Jiu-Jitsu (that came from Japan) to be used by anyone in a real fight situation. The belt progression goes in the following order: White, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black, Red-black, Red.
Footvolley was created by Jordan Tavener in the 1960s. It is a mix of Football and Volleyball, where the players must use their feet and head to get the Ball over the net and into the opponent's court, and, is also played on the beaches. It is one of the most popular Beach Sports in Brazil.
Maria Esther Bueno is the most successful Brazilian tennis player in Grand Slam tournaments. She has seven single titles (four wins at the US Open and three at Wimbledon) and twelve doubles titles (five at Wimbledon, four at the US Open, two in the Roland Garros, including a mixed doubles, and once at the Australian Open). In the men's side, Gustavo Kuerten, or Guga, is the most successful Brazilian player, with three wins at Roland Garros (1997, 2000, 2001) and the being ranked number one in the world for almost a full year. However, bad administrations, lack of money and serious support, and the elitization of this sport resulted in an uncompetitive Brazilian tennis, fragile and with a doubtful future. Today, Thomaz Bellucci is the Brazil's top player, one of the 30 best in the world.
Basketball is the third most popular sport in Brazil. The men's Brazilian national team has won the Basketball World Championship twice, in 1959 and 1963. They have also been runners up on two occasions in 1954 and 1970, as well as coming third on two occasions in 1967 and 1978, meaning that the Brazilian national team has won in total six medals at the Basketball World Championship. The Brazilian national team has also won three Olympic bronze medals (1948, 1960, 1964)and total of nine medals at the FIBA Americas Championship three gold (1984, 2005, 2009) two silver (1988, 2001) and four bronze (1989, 1992, 1995, 1997). Oscar Schmidt is the most renowned male Brazilian player, and Hortência Marcari the most renowned female. There are many good Brazilian Basketball players that play in the Brazilian domestic league the Campeonato Brasileiro de Basquete and for big clubs across the world. There are four notable Brazilian players that play in the NBA: they are the Toronto Raptors' Leandro Barbosa, the Denver Nuggets' Nenê, the Cleveland Cavaliers' Anderson Varejão, and the San Antonio Spurs' Tiago Splitter.
Brazil has produced three Formula One world champions: Emerson Fittipaldi (1972 and 1974), Nelson Piquet (1981, 1983 and 1987) and Ayrton Senna (1988, 1990 and 1991). In total, Brazil has 101 Formula One race wins (as of the 2009 Italian Grand Prix), distributed between Senna (41), Piquet (23), Fittipaldi (14), Massa (11), Barrichello (11) and José Carlos Pace (1).
There are four Brazilian drivers in the 2010 lineup, Rubens Barrichello of Wiliams, Felipe Massa of Ferrari, Bruno Senna of Hispania and Lucas Di Grassi of Virgin.
The Brazilian Grand Prix has been in the Formula One calendar since 1972, currently held in October or November. There are two circuits have been host to the race: Jacarepagua and Interlagos. The first one, located in Rio de Janeiro, hosted the 1978 race and then between 1981 and 1989. From 1972 to 1977, in 1979 and 1980, and since 1990 the Brazilian Grand Prix takes place at the Interlagos circuit, in São Paulo.
The only Formula One constructor to ever be based in Brazil is Fittipaldi Automotive.
Brazil is also home to notable drivers in American Championship Car Racing. Cristiano da Matta was 2001 CART champion and Tony Kanaan was 2004 IndyCar champion, whereas Brazilians have won the Indianapolis 500 race 6 times: Emerson Fittipaldi (1989 and 1993), Hélio Castroneves (2001, 2002 and 2009) and Gil de Ferran (2003). The CART race the Rio 400 at Jacarepagua in the late 1990s, whereas the IndyCar Series currently hosts São Paulo Indy 300 street race since 2010.
In the sports car racing scene, Raul Boesel won the 1987 World Sportscar Championship and got close to winning the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours, when he was second, and Ricardo Zonta won the 1998 FIA GT Championship. Also the Mil Milhas Brasil, an endurance race, has the longest history in the Brazilian racing events.
Auto racing popularity is rising, with the Stock Car Brasil and Fórmula Truck being broadcasted nationally. The South American Formula Three is mostly held in Brazil and has developed several South American circuit drivers.
On motorcycle racing, the most prominent Brazilian racer on MotoGP as of now is Alex Barros, who is the most experienced racer of all time in the category with 276 race starts and seven wins. The Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix is a former Grand Prix race.
Volleyball is the second most popular Sport in Brazil. Brazil is also the most successful country in Volleyball.
The Brazil men's national volleyball team is currently the champion in the 2 major competitions (Volleyball World Cup and Volleyball World Championship), and, ranks number 1 in the FIVB World Rankings.
Here is a record for achievements of the Brazilian men's Volleyball team:
The Brazil women's national volleyball team is also ranked number 1 in the FIVB World Rankings, and, is the current Olympic champion in Volleyball.
Here is a record for achievements of the Brazilian women's Volleyball team:
Brazilian younger teams maintain the same success rate as the senior squads. As of March 25, 2007, in the FIVB men ranking for junior and youth, Brazil is placed first for women while the men are placed second.
Beach Volleyball has also given Brazilian athletes much success worldwide, today Brazil is the ruling country in Volleyball, and, is Brazil's second most popular Sport. The FIVB 2006 World Tour has finished with Brazilians on the top in both men and women rankings. Both, men and women, have won Olympic Games medals. Men have won golden in 2004 and silver 2000 and 2008; and women have won golden in 1996, silver in 1996, 2000 and 2004, and bronze in 1996 and 2000. Brazilian athletes have also collected many medals in the World Tour.
Brazil has professional Volleyball team competitions: the Superliga Masculina de Vôlei and its female counterpart, Superliga Feminina de Vôlei. Among the most successful teams are: Minas Tenis, Banespa and Santo André for the male league and Rexona, Osasco and Clube de Regatas Flamengo for the female league.
Rugby union has been played in Brazil since at least 1888. Athough it has been played in Brazil for as long as football, it never enjoyed its popularity. The Brazil national rugby union team has so far never qualified for a Rugby World Cup. A domestic club competition, the Campeonato Brasileiro de Rugby, has been contested annually since 1964.
Skateboarding is one of the most popular sports in Brazil. According to a study conducted by Datafolha, the estimated number of skateboarders in Brazil for 2003 is close to 3,000,000, the majority of whom are in the state of São Paulo. Many of the world's top Skateboarders are Brazilian, such as Sandro Dias, Rodrigo Menezes, Felipe Gustavo, Rodil Ferrugem, Nilton Neves, Fabrizio "Breeze" Santos, Lincoln Ueda, Alex Carolino, Christiano Mateus, Karen Jones, Ricardo Porva, Daniel Vieira, Bob Burnquist and Og de Souza. Fabiola da Silva are as equally famous in the world of aggressive inline skating.
Athletics, swimming, judo and sailing are traditional sports in Brazil, which have earned Olympic medals for the country. In athletics, some highlights are Adhemar da Silva, João Carlos de Oliveira, Joaquim Cruz and Maurren Maggi.
In swimming, Brazil has been progressing gradually. First, produced some Olympic medalists, like Ricardo Prado, Gustavo Borges and Fernando Scherer. Today, Brazil is a powerhouse in the Sport, having as the highest representative César Cielo, Olympic champion, world champion and world record holder.
Sailing and Equestrians are considered growing sports, not accessible for the general population. Some great athletes were produced, however, such as the rider Rodrigo Pessoa and Sailors Robert Scheidt, Marcelo Ferreira and the brothers Lars and Torben Grael.
Judo was brought and developed by the large Japanese community. Some Brazilian Olympic medalists for the Sport are Rogério Sampaio and Aurélio Miguel. Today, Brazil is one of the strongest countries in the Sport. Some actual strong Brazilians in Sport are João Derly and Tiago Camilo, world champions.
Boxing is a popular sport, especially in the northeast region. It is considered a poor people's sport. Some famous fighters are Eder Jofre and Acelino "Popó" Freitas, former World Champions.
Curling is a growing sport in Brazil, with the creation of a national team, being a phenomenon of audience in the Olympic Games in Vancouver, a temporary rink in the Eldorado Shopping Center in São Paulo with the presence of Norwegian Star, Linn Githmark, and is already being planned to build a Winter Sports Complex, probably in the city of Campos do Jordão
Team Handball has been a popular sport, being practised specially in private schools, although it's also beginning to be practiced in public schools due being easy and cheap to use Futsal grounds, increasing the Sports variety in Physical Education programs. The Brazil national handball team is regarded as the best in the Americas. Handball is increasing in popularity and media cover. The national league is broadcast on cable TV, and is sponsored by Petrobras.
Frescobol is a Brazilian-born sport, that is similar to tennis and cricket, but is played with a wooden racket and a soft rubber ball on the beach, and, it also does not have a score system. It was introduced in the 1960s, in Ipanema Beach, and, it is still very popular sport to this day.
Surfing is one of the most popular water sport in Brazil. Several professional Brazilian surfers compete in the men's and women's ASP World Championship Tour. Brazil is also famous for having produced many talented Longboard surfers (such as the former world champion Phil Razjman), and, many well-known big rider surfers (like Carlos Burle and 2-time XXL award winner Maya Gabeira), and various prominent bodyboarders.
Biribol is a Brazilian-born sport, created in the city of Birigüi, in São Paulo state. It is a kind of volleyball played in a swimming pool. Peteca (shuttlecock) is native sport, that is originated from indigenous games.
American Football is a growing sport in Brazil, and, is played by young people in some states. The most popular modality played there are Flag Football (which is stronger in São Paulo), and Beach American Football (played in coastal cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, Recife and João Pessoa).
In television football is by far the most watched sport in both free and paid television, games from regional teams often guarantee the top audience in its cities, also European football (specially UEFA Champions League) guarantee good audience. Games of volleyball have good audience, both genres are shown, men and women, most of Brazilian national volleyball team, Superliga and beach volleyball. Basketball is also shown, specially the national league (NBB) and NBA. In motosport the main national competitions are show the Stock Car Brasil and Fórmula Truck. Formula 1 is considered the 2nd sport event in audience (behind the football). IndyCar Series also have a base of fans in Brazil. Curling was the latest sporting phenomenon in Brazil in terms of audience. The Women's Curling World Championship, held in late March in Canada, had an impact on the audience of more than 1.1 million people in the three days aired on Sportv.
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