Daiane dos Santos: from athlete to sports influencer –

aesthetic pressure

Maturity: “Many people want the athlete to remain the same after stopping, as if they were in formaldehyde. But the body changes (Leo Martins/)

In 2014, Daiane made her debut as commentator da Globo at the Gymnastics World Cup. His charisma and technical precision in his role were recognized – this year, for example, at the Tokyo Olympic Games, rescheduled due to the pandemic, she returns to assume this role in front of the cameras. Many prejudiced comments, however, were made regarding her physical form. “Many people want the athlete to remain the same after stopping, as if they were in formaldehyde. But the body changes”, she says. “My head didn’t want to train so much anymore and with less muscle demand, it’s normal to have a body change. I heard comments that made me upset, but I chose to listen to my friends, my family, ”she recalls. “It took a lot of emotional intelligence to go through that transition and not freak out.”

“Many people want the athlete to remain the same after stopping, as if they were in formaldehyde. But the body changes

The new phase included moments of relaxation – “I wanted to stay on Netflix having a juice, take a vacation, rest” – and adaptation. “My body asked for routine. I’ve been aligning things better and today I focus on care. There is external pressure for the perfect image, but it is necessary to think more about the issue of health”, defends the former athlete. The cycle as a gymnast had come to an end, but the attention to well-being could remain firm.

Currently, during necessary social distancing, gym visits and face-to-face sessions with your trainer Disney Sanches are suspended. But the walks with his dog, Negresco, and training at home, preferably in the morning, happen every day, including Sundays. “If there is no time early, I try to fit in some other time. I’ve even taken advantage of the building’s staircase, always at an empty time.”