Often known as “The Hero of Brazil,” Thiago Braz da Silva is a prodigy in the pole vaulting scene. Thiago is currently a reigning Olympic gold medalist and holds the Olympic record of 6.03 meters.
Additionally, Thiago became the South American Champion in 2013. During the event, he set a new outdoor area record of 5.83 m.
But the Brazilian superstar athlete did not stop there. Thiago extended the South American indoor record on February 12, 2016, in Berlin, Germany.
During his endeavor, Thiago was trained by Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov. For those who don’t know, Vitaly is regarded as the mastermind behind the career of Yelena Isinbayeva and Sergey Bubka.
Today, in this article, we will discuss Thiago’s journey from his early career to his professional career. Along with that, we will also discuss his personal life and family.
Let’s get started with some quick facts!
Quick Facts:
| Name | Thiago Braz |
| Full name | Thiago Braz da Silva |
| Birthdate | December 16, 1993 |
| Age | 31 years old |
| Birthplace | Marília, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Body type | Athletic |
| Height | 1.83 m/6 feet |
| Weight | 75 kg/165 lb |
| Eye color | Dark |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Skin | Brown |
| Profession | Pole vaulter |
| Olympic record | 6.03 m |
| Medal record | 2016 Rio De Janeiro (Gold) Summer Youth Olympics (Silver) World Junior Championship (Gold) |
| Indoor record | 5.93 m (Berlin, Germany.) |
| Outdoor record | 5.83 m (South American Championship) |
| Coach | Vitaly Petrov |
| Rival | Renaud Lavillenie |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Wife | Ana Paula Oliveira |
| Marriage date | 2014 |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Net Worth | $10 million |
| Merch | Pole Vaulting Shirt |
| Last Update | April, 2025 |
Thiago Braz | Early Life, Family & Education
Thiago Braz da Silva shortly, Thiago Braz was born on December 16, 1993, in Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sadly, Thiago has not disclosed much information regarding his early life. Like his parent’s name, their profession, and about his siblings.
However, what we do know is that Thiago was abandoned by his mother when he was just a boy. Further, his grandparents took responsibility afterward and raised him.
Growing up, Braz’s grandfather and grandmother became his biggest inspiration. As a result, most of the qualities and teaching he has learned are from his grandparents.
In addition, growing up, one of his favorite hobbies was going fishing with his grandparents. Thiago said that the activity served as therapy and relaxation.
Consequently, he visits his grandparents occasionally and goes fishing in the region’s lake.
Besides, before his leap in the pole vault career, Thiago tried a trajectory inside a basketball. However, shortly after, he released his lack of talent in the game.
Consequently, Thiago devoted himself to athletics through the guidance of his uncle, Fabiano Braz.
How old is Thiago Braz? Age, Height & Weight
The exceptional athlete is currently 31 years old. At such a young age, Thiago has been able to achieve wonders.
Apart from his mental strength, his physical features also played a big part in his success.
Likewise, Thiago currently stands at a height of 6 feet and weighs around 75kg.
Additionally, Thiago has been following a strict diet and workout routine to maintain his physique. Likewise, he is also preparing himself for upcoming events.
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Thiago Braz | Career Background
Since the age of 13, Braz has devoted his life to Pole Vaulting. After a short stint with his school basketball team, Thiago returned to athletics at age 14.
According to Thiago Braz, his first coach was Alexsandro Ramos. Moreover, shortly after, Thiago was invited to train in Bragança Paulista. He taught at the respective facility for seven months.
Furthermore, at the age of 15, and with a PB of 4.60m, Thiago realized he needed to evolve technically.
Additionally, after settling down, the duo set their goal to reach the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. They believed the event would help them gain experience.
Also, before leaving Singapore, Thiago broke the Brazilian youth record (5.10m). Besides, the partnership between Vitali Petrov and de Souza brought Thiago’s skill to a new level.
Fright, Fear, and Injury
Thiago suffered an injury to his left wrist during European competition. He fell off the mattress, and it was so painful that he required surgery.
Furthermore, it took some time for Thiago to recover from the injury and acquire his confidence again.
Moreover, he recalls requiring a lot of work was done on his physical and psychological aspects.
Additionally, Thiago states he felt the pressure and had the urgency to overcome it. Consequently, he has a lot of effort needed mentally to prepare himself for the Olympics.
Thiago Braz da Silva elevated to national hero status
At the end of the 2016 Olympics, Thiago won Brazil’s first men’s gold medal since 1984.
Further, after his win, the stadium was filled with the chants and celebrations of thousands of supporters. Besides, to win the gold medal, Thiago had to vault 6.03m.
The respective record was 10cm higher than his previous personal best. Also, it was 6cm more than the record he set during the 2012 London Olympics.
Further, during the event, Thiago raised the stakes on Laivillenie and attempted for the 6.03m.
At the moment, the event was aired live across the country. Additionally, every household was tuning to the pole vault contest.
Thus, Thiago had to prove himself in his second attempt, which was the best vault of his life. Besides, Lavillenie failed two of his attempt and had only one shot left.
Moreover, his confidence was drained as the fans started to boo him at the runway’s end.
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The best on the continent
In the entire history of pole vault sport, nobody in South America has been able to jump higher than Thiago.
Further, his record in an open track is 5.93m. On the other hand, his vest mark in indoor competitions is 5.92m as well.
These results have enabled Thiago to gain popularity and attention from all over the world.
Notably, for his wonderful athletic skill, Thiago was named Athlete of the Year in athletics by the Brazilian Olympic Committee in 2016.
Likewise, he was also honored with the Military Sports Merit Medal by the Brazilian Ministry of Defence.
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Star coach
Thiago Braz has been living in Formia, Italy since 2014. Further, he has also been training in a well-equipped training center run by Vitaly Petrov.
Besides, the investment in the training of Thiago is facilitated by the Olympic Committee of Brazil (COB).
The Ukrainian coach has become a hotshot in Europe after his recent success. Moreover, he is also credited for the progress and evolution of Thiago Braz.
A helping hand
Before moving to Italy to train with coach Vitaly, he was polished by Elson Miranda. Elson is known as the husband and technician of Fabiana Murer.
Elson helped Thiago to settle down after his move away from his home country. Thus, Thiago states that he is grateful for his kindness to this day.
Thiago Braz | Net Worth
Thiago has earned most of his fortune from his career as a professional athlete. In addition, he makes money by participating in numerous events across the world.
His estimated net worth stands at $10 million. Also, Braz has just begun his professional career, and he is on his way to building a fortune.
Likewise, he still has many years left to name himself and earn even more cash in the coming years.
Thiago Braz | Personal Life & Wife
For those who don’t know, Thiago has been happily married to his beautiful wife, Ana Paula Oliveira, since 2014. They have been married for seven years as of now.
The athlete got married when he has just 20 years of age. Further, the sweet couple met in one of the athletics environments.
Similar to her husband, Ana is also an athlete and represents Brazil in the high jump events. However, unlike Thiago, she was not able to obtain an index for Rio 2016.
Additionally, the athlete was number #9 in the world of pole vaulting during the time he got married.
The decision was a new challenge for him in his life. Nonetheless, the couple moved to Italy with optimism to progress further.
Fanatic for Airplane
The Brazilian athlete is passionate about model aircraft. The pro jumper bought his small engine plane in 2014 after moving to Italy.
In addition, Thiago states that he had spent $20 thousand buying smaller planes. He said, and we quote,
“I think that wanting to fly so much ends up having the relationship with the jump.”
Social Media Presence:
The Olympic champion is famous on social media platforms as well. Braz is active on Instagram under the username @thiagobrazpv. Further, the athlete has over 287k followers on the respective platform.
Similarly, Thiago has a massive fan following on Twitter as well. Additionally, he has over 39k followers by the username @ThiagoBrazPV.
Some FAQs:
Is Thiago Braz da Silva Portuguese?
No, Thiago Braz da Silva is Brazilian by nationality.
Is Thiago Braz da Silva in Tokyo 2020 Olympic?
Yes, Thiago Braz da Silva is participating in the 2020 Summer Olympics representing Brazil.
What is Thiago Braz da Silva Olympic record?
Thiago Braz da Silva holds the Olympic record of 6.03 meters.
Who won the gold medal in the men’s pole vault at the Rio 2016 Olympics?
Thiago Braz da Silva won the gold medal in the men’s pole vault at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
When is the Men’s Pole Vault event going to take place in the 2020 Olympics?
According to sources, the men’s pole vault event is scheduled to take place between 31 July and 3 August 2021 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
