Brasil reviews his performance at Rio 2016

“It was a unique experience in my life and I am very happy and proud of what we, Brazilians, did!”

Andre Brasil left Rio with the sweet taste of knowing he gave his best and had the opportunity to compete at the world’s biggest Para sport event in front of a lively home crowd, despite not winning gold for the first time, he says.

The Brazilian swimmer won silver in the men’s 100m freestyle S10 and the 4x100m freestyle relay 34 points, and bronze in the 100m butterfly S10 and the 4x100m medley relay 34 points, at Rio 2016.

“It was a unique experience in my life and I am very happy and proud of what we, Brazilians, did!” said Brasil, who claimed seven golds, five silvers and two bronzes over three Paralympic Games.

“This was the best way to show the world that Brazilians can organise great parties.”

Brasil, one of his country’s main medal hopes, believes he was up to the task at Latin America’s first Paralympic Games.

“I am pretty much happy of what I did in the pool. Of course I would have liked to win a gold medal. But as I always say: ‘It is sport!’” he said.

“Being in the podium is a unique moment for every athlete and I was happy to be there again.

“All the competitors expect to win, but in sports sometimes you win and sometimes you do not. It is part of the game!”

The 32-year-old is the 50m freestyle S10 world-record holder (23.16), but he was far from his personal best in Rio, finishing fourth after clocking 23.78.

“That is the only event I did not make the time I wanted,” he said.

There are three things Brasil considered were the best from last month’s Paralympics.

“The warm support of the volunteers, the facilities and, of course, the support of the big crowd in the stands,” he said.

In the short-term, Brasil is planning to compete at the 2017 World Para swimming Championships in Mexico City, from 30 September-7 October.

“That is my next objective and in four-years-time we have Tokyo 2020, but I need to go step by step, day by day,” he said.

“I am not sure yet if I will compete in the next Paralympic Games, but they will probably be my last. I would like to swim well in Tokyo and have the chance to win a medal.

“I am not thinking of retirement yet because I want to qualify for Tokyo 2020, but after finishing my career I would like to give back to other people what Para sport has given me.”

The 2017 World Para swimming Championships will gather around 550 swimmers from more than 60 countries at the Francisco Marquez Olympic Swimming Pool, in Mexico City.