Brazilian · São Paulo, Brazil · Born 16 December 19932016 Olympic pole vault champion, upset Renaud Lavillenie.
Thiago Braz da Silva was born on 16 December 1993 in Marília, São Paulo, Brazil, and was introduced to the pole vault at 14 by his uncle, a former decathlete, before winning silver at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games and gold at the 2012 World Junior Championships. Braz delivered one of the biggest upsets in Olympic athletics history at the 2016 Rio Games, defeating reigning champion and world record holder Renaud Lavillenie of France to win gold with an Olympic record clearance of 6.03 metres, becoming just the second Brazilian gold medallist of those home Games. Braz added a bronze medal at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and won silver at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, setting a South American indoor record in the process. Braz tested positive for a banned muscle-growth substance in 2023, which he attributed to a contaminated nutritional supplement, and was banned for 16 months, causing him to miss the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has continued competing since his ban expired, remaining one of the most accomplished pole vaulters Brazil has produced.
Pole Vault
How They Played
Technical vaulter known for exceptional runway speed and precise takeoff timing
Lasting Impact
First Brazilian to win Olympic gold in pole vault, inspiring a generation of Brazilian field athletes
Career Honours
- 2016 Olympic gold pole vault
- 2020 Olympic bronze pole vault
Brazilian Athletes