‘My name is resistance’: Adriana Araújo opens Struggle Center in Salvador

Long-suffering is a word that defines those who have the virtue of enduring setbacks firmly, overcoming the challenges imposed by life and turning things around. This is also the word that Adriana Araújo uses to explain her trajectory. From the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games to being sold at an auction of the achievement, the boxer from Bahia inaugurates this Saturday (11) a new stage in her life, the Centro de Lutas Adriana Araújo.

In July 2024, Adriana announced the auction of her Olympic bronze medal, the first won by Brazilian women’s boxing. The objective was to raise funds to open a restaurant and restart his life outside the ring. The Superbet bookmaker purchased the artifact and returned it to the boxer, proposing the opening of a boxing gym in Salvador.

“It was a very difficult moment for me, I would never have imagined [vender a medalha]especially because it was something I wanted to do well before, but I didn’t have the courage. It was also something precious that I achieved in a very difficult way, when we achieve something like this, we know the pain of losing. It hurt me a lot, but it was necessary, I needed to have a second plan to be able to survive in life. I thought that, with a restaurant, I would really have support,” he explained in an exclusive interview with CORREIO.

Adriana also explained that one of the reasons for the restaurant was to escape the sport, but boxing did not allow the medalist to distance herself. The call was answered, but the desire to have a gastronomic establishment remains among the goals. The focus at this moment, however, is to start the new project, consolidate it and only then think about expanding with new branches in Salvador and other states.

The initial planning was for the fight center to be built in São Paulo, but the desire to stay close to the family and the Salvadoran blood brought the dream to Bahia. Located in the Graça neighborhood, the gym has a semi-professional ring (4×4 meters), tatami mats, punching bags, dumbbells, musical boxing machine, speed pear, boxing push ball, as well as a dedicated area for LPO work (Olympic Weightlifting) with bars and plates. The location will also offer Muay Thai and Karate and, soon, Jiu Jitsu.

Raised in a low-income community in Salvador, Adriana Araújo started boxing at 18 years old. Despite the difficulties, she became one of Brazil’s greatest athletes, accumulating titles such as an Olympic medal and a prominent place in world women’s boxing. Now, off the court, the athlete wants to give back to the sport everything she learned.

“Today I am already a reference to not get discouraged. From the beginning for me it was always difficult and even more so than today. Currently, the opportunities are different, we see the scenario completely different from what it was in my time. We had no opportunity to be seen, let alone have a structure like today. Other girls will have this opportunity to train here”, he gave the message.

In an article published in July last year on the website “The Players Tribune”, Adriana wrote that she would like to be remembered as “the athlete who won her biggest fights outside the ring”. With the start of the academy, the boxer believes that this new achievement represents everything that the name Adriana Araújo represents.

Despite heading towards the end of her career in the ring, the year 2025 already has new clashes scheduled to complete the boxer’s career with a flourish. To CORREIO, the Olympic medalist revealed that she already has two proposals to return to the United States in February and one that is still a secret. With a smile on his face and eyes full of tears, only one clue escapes. “I may end this year with a world title”, he concludes.

The Adriana Araújo Fighting Center is located in Avenida Euclydes da Cunha, nº 170, Graça neighborhood. The gym is open from 6am to 10pm on weekdays, while Saturday hours are from 6am to 2pm.