“I want to keep improving” – Juliana Vieira (BRA)
As part of the Pan Am Training Camp Lima 2024, Juliana Viana Vieira visited the facilities of the Pan Am Badminton Confederation and told us a little about her days in Paris 2024.
At this Olympic Games, Juliana, at the age of 20, represented Brazil and the region and managed to become the first Brazilian to win a badminton match at the Olympic Games history.
“I felt very happy and very grateful to everyone. I was very proud of myself for the path I took to achieve one of my greatest dreams, which was to be in the Olympics. What I liked most was being alongside great world athletes and having made history as the first Brazilian to win a badminton match at the Olympics. I felt very good and happy to have made history for my country.”
Like every athlete, the support she had around her also pushed her to achieve her dream and compete at her best in these Olympic Games. Sports entities such as the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Badminton Pan Am and the Brazilian Badminton Confederation (CBBd) also played key roles in this achievement.
“I have received support from the Brazil Olympic Committee, from CBBd, from Pan Am, but I highlight CBBd because they supported me in all the tournaments and that helped me to qualify. CBBD helped me a lot, and I am grateful for the training in France before the Games, and that was very helpful..”
Dreams often require sacrifices, and that was something Juliana understood from a very young age, when she first picked up a racket and set long-term goals for herself. It took 14 years for her to fulfill her biggest sporting dream and make history for her country.
“What I had to do to achieve this dream was that since I was 6 years old, when I started playing badminton, I understood that I had to leave my family to travel to different tournaments. I had to work hard to achieve my dreams. Being away from my family hurts, but it’s something I had to do to achieve my dreams. All athletes go through things like this, we don’t have much free time to spend with family and friends.”
Juliana has a special place in the Pan Am Confederation facilities. Like all Olympic athletes, her photo is part of the Olympic wall, highlighting her achievements.
For the competition, the athlete plans to arrive in the best possible shape, and Juliana had good preparation prior to Paris 2024, where her coach and teammates helped her reach her best level and face this competition in the best way.
“My preparation was very hard, as it is for all events. Of course, the mental demands were stronger for the Olympics, which are a very tough tournament, and it is normal for one to feel nervous. My preparation was good and I really enjoyed it. Marco helped me throughout. I trust his work a lot, and he trusts me as an athlete, so all the work becomes easier. I also had my teammates who helped me throughout the training process to reach my best level.”
In the life of an athlete, their coach and teammates become their family. People with whom they share their day, learn from, and are motivated to be better.
“I thank Marco and my teammates for being by my side every day, training and sharing experiences, together in good and bad times. I thank them very much for that.”
The experience of the Olympic Games leaves its mark on the lives of athletes, motivating them to keep dreaming and set new goals.
“I’m still the same, but with a slightly different mentality because I want to keep improving.”