Every year, thousands of athletes from all over the world arrive in Brazil to participate in the traditional São Silvestre International Race, which always happens on the day December 31th. The race is the most famous street competition in the country and the most important in Latin America. But to gain this recognition, she went through many changes in her more than 90 years of history.
it all started in 1924, when the journalist Cásper Líbero, after returning from a trip to France, decided to bring to Brazil a street race similar to the one he had known in the European country. In France, it is said that the competition was held at night and the runners carried torches during the course. In Brazil, Cásper Líbero did different and, although the competition had its first years with night racing, the competitors did not use the torches.
choice of name
Despite all the tradition that São Silvestre carries, not everyone knows where the name of the competition came from. The reference comes from the Catholic Church, which, on December 31, commemorates the
Saint Sylvester's Day. Saint Silvestre was a Catholic Pope who commanded the Church on January 31, 314 AD. Ç. to December 31, 335 d. Ç. For this reason, the race was named in honor of São Silvestre, the saint of the day.Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
first race
In the first edition of São Silvestre, 60 competitors signed up, but only 48 people participated in the course, and 37 of them qualified. O path was eight kilometers, and the start was given on New Year's Eve, in December 31, 1924, in the streets of Sao Paulo, marking the turn of the year. The first winner was Alfredo Gomes.
See too: the first marathon in the world
Inclusion of women
Women during the São Silvestre Race**
Today, São Silvestre is a race that brings together all classes and genders, unlike what happened when it started its trajectory, allowing only male participation in the races.
The year 1975 was recognized by the United Nations (UN), such as the International Year of Women. From that date, the organization decided that women would also become an integral part of the competition. The first champion was the German Christia Valensieck, which repeated the feat in 1976.
In the early years, men and women participated in the race together and later had their separate classifications. Currently, start times are different.
biggest winners
In the men's category, Brazil is the country that leads the ranking of titles by São Silvestre, with 29 champions. In second place is Kenya, with 14 winners. In the female category, Kenya dominates the ranking with 12 achievements. The vice-leader is Portugal, with seven victories.
In individual victories, the Portuguese Rose Mota is a record holder of titles, was a six-time consecutive champion from 1981 to 1986. the kenyan Paul Tergat dominates the achievements of the men's race. He was the fastest in five editions of São Silvestre (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000).
The greatest Brazilian champion is an athlete Marilson Gomes dos Santos, which won São Silvestre three times (2003, 2005 and 2010).
Accessibility
Wheelchair user disputes the São Silvestre Race***
Open to various audiences, people with disabilities (visually impaired, lower limb amputees, walking disabled lower limbs, intellectually disabled, upper limb disabled, hearing impaired, wheelchair users with guides) can also participate in the test.
Wheelchair athletes and those with other types of disabilities have specific starts in the competition, and only after that the female and male elites and the general squad are allowed to start.
Saint Silvestrinha
The children's competition was born in 1994, like objective of awakening the interest of young people in sport, discipline and the exercise of citizenship.
The competition is held days before the adult race and allows the participation of competitors from 6 to 17 years old deity. The routes range from 50 m to 800 m, according to each category.
Changes at São Silvestre
In the early years, the route of São Silvestre was 8 km, the runners did not have much experience, and it was forbidden to drink water during the race.
Held, in large part, through the city center, the race has already had several different courses and distances. Among the most varied changes to which the competition was submitted, in 1989, the organizers defined that the competition would be played during the day and that the male and female competitions would be separated. In addition, the direction of travel was also reversed.
Two years later, in 1991, for the race to be officially recognized, the route was extended to 15 km away and thus to comply with the requirements of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). With the changes, the São Silvestre Race became part of the international street competition calendar.
With the expansion of the race, in 1998, another novelty arrived at the competition. This time, technology began to be part of São Silvestre. You timing chips started to be used by the participants.
Until the 20th edition, only Brazilian athletes were allowed to participate. Over the years, São Silvestre underwent transformations and, in 1945, the competition gained its first international participation, with competitors from Chile and Uruguay. From then on, as São Silvestre grew, professional athletes from around the world began to take an interest in the competition, which attracted competitors from the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. With the increasing number of runners, the race organization also decided to open the two lanes on Avenida Paulista for the finish.
Currently, around 30,000 people from different countries participate in the competition. On the current course, the competition has starting in the morning, at Avenida Paulista and Rua Augusta, and arriving at the same Avenida Paulista, in front of the Cásper Líbero Building, according to the map below:
São Silvestre start times
- Wheelchair Athletes (female and male): 8:20 am
- Athletes with Disabilities (female and male): 9 am
- Elite A/B Athletes (female): 8:40 am
- Elite A/B Athletes (male): 9 am
- Athletes from Platoon C (female and male): 9 am
- General Squad Athletes (female and male): 9 am
How to participate in São Silvestre
Anyone wishing to participate in the biggest street race in Brazil must register through the São Silvestre website, which usually opens the dates in the month of November. Participants must also pay an entry fee, which varies according to the category in which they will compete. Applicants receive, from the event organization, a kit with breast number and timing chip.
award
Athletes who achieve a placement between 1st and 10th place also receive a incentive award for goal achieved, which goes for values close to R$3 thousand to R$90 thousand.
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*Image Credit:plops / Shutterstock.com
** Image Credit:Fernanda Paradizo / Shutterstock.com
***Image Credit:Fernanda Paradizo / Shutterstock.com
By Giullya Franco
Journalist
