The incident that could have resulted in a tragedy was what brought the boy from Volta Redonda closer to the sport that transformed his life and through which he intends to transform the lives of so many others.

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It was after a drowning incident that swimming lessons entered Thiago Pereira's life. What began as his mother's search for greater safety ultimately became the sport that allowed him to grow and, with great courage, focus, resilience, and persistence, achieve his long-awaited Olympic medal.