After winning a lymphoma, Judoca disputes the Youth Games

The judo of the Youth Games in Brasilia only starts on Sunday, but already has a champion: Miguel Rodrigues, 15 years old. And the battle that this young Ceará won goes far beyond the mat. Overcoming a lymphoma discovered in July 2024this Warrior from Fortaleza is ready to celebrate life and continue practicing the sport he loves.

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Brazilian under-13 regional champion, in Natal, and fifth place, at 13, in the Brazilian U-15, among other achievements, Miguel Rodrigues was classified for school games and the Brazilian when he received the diagnosis of lymphoma.

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– It was a very big shock, because I had to stop the judo and I even thought I could never go back again – Remember, In an exclusive interview with the bid!the athlete, who began in sport at two and a half years, influenced by his father, Marcondes, also judoka.

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Where did so much strength come from to get around?

– First, of my faith in God and my family and my friendsthat they were always by my side giving me strength and my desire to return to the great mats – highlights the judoka, in an interview on the eve of boarding, Saturday, to Brasilia, where he will be at the Youth Games.

With chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions, the treatment of the young judoka lasted eight months. And he is very grateful to the two places where he won the cancer and the team that was by his side all the time:

– I wanted to thank the Peter Pan and Albert Sabin Hospitalsespecially to doctoral Márcia Lima and Bruna Alcântarawho spent most of the treatment with me, to the nurse Kayla Andreathat always gave me strength. I also thank my Sensei Bento, Ana and Gabrielwho were with me throughout the treatment. I also thank Sensei Glauciawhich is my second mother. To my friends Kauã, Stanley, D'Ávila, Leo, Diego and Andersonwho have always been with me. And my family and friends in general, who were rooting for my healing and praying so that everything worked out.

Miguel's father also thanks the agility with which Peter Pan and Albert Sabin dealt with his son:

– He never lost the flame of wanting to go back to judo. Despite being a lymphoma, thanks to the two hospitals, which were fast. The lymphoma grew a lot, scared the doctors, but in the first chimios, thank God, disappeared. Thank God, sport and judo, he had no relapse, made the treatment quiet, did not feel sick. He did treatment as if he was treating a flu. Miguel never complained about anything, on the contrary – says Marcondes.

Before he that the brothers

During the treatment, Miguel gave a empathy class and made a point of giving his father strength:

– He He thanked God for having happened to him and not with his brothers (Mikhael and Mary). As he is the strongest, he preferred a thousand times to happen to him than with the brothers. This treatment was very heavy, painful, not only for him, but the whole family. I was worried, and he was my fortress, never let me down, would take it off and that in a little while would compete again.

– As incredible as it may seem, during radiotherapy, the Miguel returned to judo and was champion of the municipal and state selectives for the 2025 Youth Games . He also fought at the Christmas Cup and mediated in the junior category and cadet, was Ceará runner-up this year. And also mediated in a senior category.

– Miguel was a warrior, did the treatment without any relapse, did not complain about anything. Today, when I see him fighting, it seems that he came back stronger. I'm sure Miguel only endured because of judo, which made him stronger. He will be back to youth games. He will defend our state. For me, he is already a victor, like father, coach, friend. He is the greatest champion. If the medal comes, it will be just a title, but what it has surpassed, is worth more than any victory – guarantees the father.

Two more delicate moments

During these long eight months, two moments were even more delicate for Miguel:

– The hardest moment It was my first hospitalization, because I had to isolate myself from everything. And the other was that, during treatment, I lost my 101 -year -old grandfather Oscar who had as a sonI gave me a lot of strength in competitions and it is my example of man.

Lessons after cancer

Although so young, the Ceará athlete holds important lessons from the battle against cancer:

– When you believe in God, nothing is impossible. And I also learned that we should never give up on our dreams in the face of any adversity.

A winner at Youth Games

And what does it mean to go back to youth games after everything that surpassed outside the mat?

– A victory and overcoming. Because after everything I went through, again to play the Youth Games already makes me a winner.

Of that, no one doubts.

* The reporter travels at the invitation of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB)