Vinicius Lessa Success Story

Vinicius Lessa is an athlete.

A short introduction to yourself?

My name is Vinicius, I’m 24 years old, I’m a black belt jiu-jitsu competitor, weight 94kg, and I’m living my dream.

How did you develop your fondness for your sport and at what age did you start?

It was actually the place where I felt welcomed, I felt good about being there, because on the mat it is the place where everyone is the same and I didn’t have it in the other places, I never got along very well in groups of friends so on the mat I found it, and I think it made me continue. I started training at the age of 16.

What is your style and what rank do you currently hold in (your sport)?

I do more guard, but I feel very good passing too, so this will depend a lot on the fight, but I think I’m a strategic fighter at the times I need to be but my fighting style is aggressive. I’m always looking for the next move.

Are you a member of any sports team? if not have you ever been?

I am part of Calasans Bjj / Atos jj

Describe your major highlights and achievements in sports in the past.

In my first year of competitions and training I finished the year as third in the rank of the cbjj and thirteenth in the ibjjf with a purple belt, and I won several opens here in Brazil, in 2018, third place in the South American 2 times, third place in the European at gi, and the most recent World pro champion at brown belt.

Are there any short-term goals you’d like to accomplish in the next few months to a couple of years?

yes, i do need to get a gi sponsor urgently, i want to win the ibjjf world, win the world pro and the other challenges, i would like to find a way to earn an income living off the sport

And mainly I want to make history in this sport.

Do you take sports as a profession or is it just a hobby?

I see it as a way of life, I do my best for that, you know?  I do everything to improve more and more and every little detail in this sport.  so, I can’t face it as a profession, but I still need to do all this work that I do to be valued and find a way to make it profitable so I can do my job well done, it’s not easy honestly, I’ve been doing the impossible to keep living it, my dream

What challenges have you faced in getting to where you are now? You can also share any injury story.

man, the challenges were always the same you know?  my financial situation, because I give up many things to live my dream and I’ve been without sponsorship for this all this time, I had some support that helped me a lot but it was always very difficult to bear all the expenses, apart from the difficulties of being always challenging myself always abdicating always dedicating myself to be better and better at it and not give up in the face of all difficulties, I had several injuries but the most difficult was in a right knee that left me without walking for a while but then I managed to recover in some months.

An interesting thing about this injury is that 2018 was the year that I stood out the most and when I got injured, I was already registered in practically all the ibjjf competitions they had the rest of the year, I think about 5 I was out of one but I managed fight the others even without being able to train so much, but I went to competitions and won, this was very important for my evolution as an athlete.

What motivates you most about your profession as an athlete?

man, this motivation has changed a lot during these 8 years, but at the beginning I think it was a flight from financial and family problems, which I had many, but today I think that it continues a little bit but it’s more of a struggle with myself, you know, I I can’t give up and I’m always competing with myself I can’t go wrong, I want to be the best and that motivates me a lot, I also want to build my life, have my home, gym, family, these things, and that motivates me

Do you have anything you want everyone to learn?

Wow, yes!  Certainly!  I think it’s not just one thing, I know I’ve lived a lot but I still have a lot to learn, but I think that if there’s one thing everyone should do, it’s thought and act for themselves, you know?  not being influenced by the thoughts and opinions of others but having their own way of thinking, acting, forming their own conclusions, and acting in a way that is the best for each one, regardless of what others will think, I think that’s it, and also never be ashamed of who you are.

What tournament or match you have won are you most proud of and why?

The World pro Abu Dhabi 2021 for sure because it was a personal achievement, the World pro has always been a goal of mine, I always wanted to win this championship, I had already been trying twice at purple belt and I didn’t get a place on the podium, and I was coming from a very difficult phase, of not having money to pay rent, I was cold, hungry, it was a very difficult situation and even so, dedicating myself 100% without giving up, and man it was surreal this championship was very beautiful and I was coming from defeats and man, at the World pro I had an incredible performance.

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