Valmir Nunes

Valmir Nunes (born January 16, 1964)[1] is a Brazilian runner. A former world record holder, he currently holds South American and Brazilian Ultramarathon records.

Contents

Career

Nunes initially found success in the 100-kilometre (62 mi) distance race, winning the world championship in 1991.[2] He also placed first in the U.S.A. National 100 Kilometer Championship, finishing before the first American.[2] In 1995 Nunes set the world record with a time of 6 hours, 18 minutes and 9 seconds in Winschoten, Netherlands. His record was not broken until 1998.[3][4]

Nunes has also been successful in longer races. In 2001 he won the 246-kilometre (153 mi) Spartathlon in Greece in a time of 23 hours, 18 minutes and 5 seconds.[5] He holds the course record at the 135-mile (217 km) Badwater Ultramarathon. In 2007 he was the first runner to finish the race in less than 24 hours, setting a course record of 22 hours, 51 minutes and 29 seconds. During the race, temperatures reached 114 °F (46 °C).[6]

In October 2010 Nunes attempted to break the world record for a 24 hour treadmill race. Although he won the race by running 215.60 kilometres (133.97 mi), he was unable to break the world record of 257.8 kilometres (160.2 mi).[7][4]

Coaching

Nunes also coaches several runners, who compete in marathons and ultramarathons.[8] In 1998 Nunes encouraged his maid, Sirlene Pinho, to begin running competitively. She has since won a bronze medal in the marathon at the 2007 Pan American Games.[9]

In 2010 he released a book about his experiences in ultrarunning.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Valmir Nunes". Athletes Biographies. International Association of Athletics Federations. http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/country=BRA/athcode=205161/index.html. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "Results Plus". New York Times. February 28, 1993. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/28/sports/results-plus-780793.html. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  3. ^ "100 Kilometers World Records". IAAF Records. International Association of Athletics Federations. http://www.iaaf.org/statistics/records/inout=o/discType=5/disc=100K/detail.html. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  4. ^ a b "Ultramaratonistas correm para quebrar recorde mundial em Porto Alegre" (in Portuguese). clicRBS. October 15, 2010. http://zerohora.clicrbs.com.br/zerohora/jsp/default.jsp?uf=1&local=1&section=Esportes&newsID=a3075583.xml. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  5. ^ "Hall of Fame". Spartathon.gr. Spartathon. http://www.spartathlon.gr/statisticssub.php?i=12&p=11. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  6. ^ "Badwater ultra record smashed". Tahoe Daily Tribune. July 25, 2007. http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20070725/SPORTS/107250039. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  7. ^ "Valmir Nunes vence ultramaratona 24h em esteira disputada na Capital" (in Portuguese). clicRBS. October 17, 2010. http://www.clicrbs.com.br/esportes/rs/noticias/default,3077673,Valmir-Nunes-vence-ultramaratona-24h-em-esteira-disputada-na-Capital.html. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  8. ^ "Pupilo de Valmir Nunes corre Bertioga-Maresias sozin". webrun.com.br. October 10, 2008. http://www.webrun.com.br/maratona/conteudo/noticias/index/id/8784. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  9. ^ "Sirlene Pinho" (in Portuguese). UOL Pan 2007. Universo Online. http://pan.uol.com.br/pan/2007/modalidades/atletismo/brasileiros/sirlenepinho.jhtm. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  10. ^ "Ultramaratonista lança livro sobre 20 anos de carreira" (in Portuguese). clicRBS. October 14, 2010. http://zerohora.clicrbs.com.br/zerohora/jsp/default.jsp?uf=1&local=1&section=Esportes&newsID=a3075571.xml. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 

Further reading