Maria Carolina Gomes Santiago

Maria Carolina Gomes Santiago (born 2 August 1985) is a Brazilian Paralympic swimmer who competes in international level events. She was a four-time Parapan American Games champion and a double World champion in freestyle swimming.[1][2]

Maria Santiago
Personal information
Full nameMaria Carolina Gomes Santiago
Nickname(s)Carol
Born (1985-08-02) 2 August 1985
Recife, Brazil
ResidenceSão Paulo, Brazil
Sport
Country Brazil
SportParalympic swimming
DisabilityMorning glory syndrome
Disability classS12
ClubGremio Nautico Uniao, Porto Alegre
Coached byLeonardo Tomasello Araujo
Medal record
Paralympic swimming
Representing  Brazil
Parapan American Games
2019 LimaWomen's 50m freestyle S12
2019 LimaWomen's 100m freestyle S12
2019 LimaWomen's 400m freestyle S12
2019 LimaWomen's 100m backstroke S12
World Championships
2019 LondonWomen's 50m freestyle S12
2019 LondonWomen's 100m freestyle S12
2019 LondonWomen's 100m backstroke S12
2019 LondonWomen's 4x100m freestyle relay 49pts

Santiago has a congenital eye condition called morning glory syndrome which is a defect in her optic nerve, she is partially sighted in her left eye but doesn't have peripheral vision in her right eye. She began swimming aged four and took part in able-bodied swimming competitions and open water swimming aged twelve. By the age of seventeen, she was completely blind for eight months due to accumulation of water in her retina and stopped swimming. She went back to swimming a decade later aged 27 and started to swim competitively again and in 2019 at the Caixa Open, she broke the Brazilian national record in the 50m freestyle that was set by Fabiana Sugimori at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens.[3]

References
  1. "Maria Santiago - IPC Athlete Bio". ipc.infostradasports.com. 5 August 2020.
  2. "Brazil wins its second gold at the World Para Swimming Championships". Parapandelima. 13 September 2019.
  3. "Estreante em competicoes internacionais Carol Santiago bate recorde mundial nos 100m peito no segundo dia do Open Loteria Caixa (in Portuguese)". Rede Nacional do Esporte. 26 April 2019.
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