A new career for many athletes, Brazilian Olympic Committee celebrates 12 years of the Athletes’ Career Transition Program
The General Director of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), Emanuel Rego, Olympic and world champion in beach volleyball, presented the diplomas to those who reached another important stage in their careers. (Photo by Brazilian Olympic Committee)
LAUSANNE, March 29, 2025 - With the goal of enhancing the skills and experiences of high-performance athletes and better preparing them for the labor market with a suitable professional transition, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) successfully completed another year of the "Athletes' Career Program," Transition Core (PAC), reaching 146 graduated athletes.
The Program, an initiative of the COB through the Brazilian Olympic Institute (IOB), supports athletes in their comprehensive development through a series of activities strategically designed to facilitate the transition, providing a solid foundation for their new career/professional stage.
The vast majority of athletes dedicate themselves fully to sports, leaving behind their educational lives, and after retirement, they face the harsh reality of not having completed an academic degree and being unable to find a job that provides a living outside of sports. Many don't even receive a pension. "It's gratifying for me to present this certificate to these athletes who decided to train and better prepare themselves for the job market. It happened to me. I achieved a very successful professional transition thanks to the Committee's and the Olympic Institute's programs. I think it's a way to give us more confidence for this second stage of our lives," said Emanuel Rego, general director of the COB and an Olympic and world champion in beach volleyball; he won the gold medal in Athens 2004, the silver in London 2012, and the bronze in Beijing 2008.
Class 2024/2025
In the 12th edition, Class 2024/2025 graduated 11 athletes, including Erlon Santos, (Canoeing), silver medallist at Rio 2016, and Rosangela Santos (Athletics), bronze medallist at Beijing 2008, in a ceremony held at the Brazilian National Team Training Center, located in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro.
And although some, like Erlon and Rosangela, have managed to continue in other areas of the sport, their presence in this course, in addition to helping them personally, serves as an encouragement to other athletes in the country. Erlon is currently the vice president of the Brazilian Canoeing Confederation, "it was a fundamental point. I had the PCA as a guide, especially for the decisions made about my future, and even regarding the presidency, it had a great influence on my final decision to choose it or not. Today I feel very calm because I know I have learned a lot, and it will undoubtedly be reflected in my election, which is to be vice president," he emphasized.
On the other hand, Rosangela is part of the Management Committee III of the Second Regional Management of the Municipal Secretariat of Rio. “I was able to develop my skills, fully recognize them, and put them into practice. I was able to work on proposed action plans thanks to the networking I'd done throughout my career, which was one of the reasons I got this position in the Sports Department.”
Athletes who meet certain criteria can apply for this program:
Having participated as an athlete in at least one edition of these events, in the following order of priority: Olympic Games, Pan American Games, South American Games, World Championships, Pan American Championships, or South American Championships.
All athletes in the adult category, of the events included in the Olympic Program for Paris 2024, Milan-Cortina 2026, and Los Angeles 2028.
They must have stopped competing in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and/or plan to stop competing in 2026 and 2027.
(All requirements must be checked with the Brazilian Olympic Committee for its approval)
Other Graduates
Important Olympic athletes such as two-time volleyball gold medallist Fabi Alvim; gold medallist Sarah Menezes (judo); André Domingos (silver in athletics); Ágatha and Bárbara Seixas (silver in beach volleyball); world champion Daiane dos Santos (gymnastics); and iconic table tennis player Hugo Hoyama, along with more than 130 other athletes, have completed the program and received their diplomas.
The Program, an initiative of the COB through the Brazilian Olympic Institute (IOB), supports athletes in their comprehensive development through a series of activities strategically designed to facilitate the transition, providing a solid foundation for their new career/professional stage.
The vast majority of athletes dedicate themselves fully to sports, leaving behind their educational lives, and after retirement, they face the harsh reality of not having completed an academic degree and being unable to find a job that provides a living outside of sports. Many don't even receive a pension. "It's gratifying for me to present this certificate to these athletes who decided to train and better prepare themselves for the job market. It happened to me. I achieved a very successful professional transition thanks to the Committee's and the Olympic Institute's programs. I think it's a way to give us more confidence for this second stage of our lives," said Emanuel Rego, general director of the COB and an Olympic and world champion in beach volleyball; he won the gold medal in Athens 2004, the silver in London 2012, and the bronze in Beijing 2008.
Class 2024/2025
In the 12th edition, Class 2024/2025 graduated 11 athletes, including Erlon Santos, (Canoeing), silver medallist at Rio 2016, and Rosangela Santos (Athletics), bronze medallist at Beijing 2008, in a ceremony held at the Brazilian National Team Training Center, located in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro.
And although some, like Erlon and Rosangela, have managed to continue in other areas of the sport, their presence in this course, in addition to helping them personally, serves as an encouragement to other athletes in the country. Erlon is currently the vice president of the Brazilian Canoeing Confederation, "it was a fundamental point. I had the PCA as a guide, especially for the decisions made about my future, and even regarding the presidency, it had a great influence on my final decision to choose it or not. Today I feel very calm because I know I have learned a lot, and it will undoubtedly be reflected in my election, which is to be vice president," he emphasized.
On the other hand, Rosangela is part of the Management Committee III of the Second Regional Management of the Municipal Secretariat of Rio. “I was able to develop my skills, fully recognize them, and put them into practice. I was able to work on proposed action plans thanks to the networking I'd done throughout my career, which was one of the reasons I got this position in the Sports Department.”
Athletes who meet certain criteria can apply for this program:
Having participated as an athlete in at least one edition of these events, in the following order of priority: Olympic Games, Pan American Games, South American Games, World Championships, Pan American Championships, or South American Championships.
All athletes in the adult category, of the events included in the Olympic Program for Paris 2024, Milan-Cortina 2026, and Los Angeles 2028.
They must have stopped competing in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and/or plan to stop competing in 2026 and 2027.
(All requirements must be checked with the Brazilian Olympic Committee for its approval)
Other Graduates
Important Olympic athletes such as two-time volleyball gold medallist Fabi Alvim; gold medallist Sarah Menezes (judo); André Domingos (silver in athletics); Ágatha and Bárbara Seixas (silver in beach volleyball); world champion Daiane dos Santos (gymnastics); and iconic table tennis player Hugo Hoyama, along with more than 130 other athletes, have completed the program and received their diplomas.
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