Throughout his career, Yane Marques, 41, got used to unprecedentedness. It was the first South American to win an Olympic medal in the modern pentathlon, with his bronze in the 2012 London Games, to this day the only podium in Brazil in the sport. It was also number two in the world in the sport, a position that was never occupied by a Brazilian.
Now it is as vice president of COB (Olympic Committee of Brazil) that it stands out. Born in Little Afogados da Ingazeira, city of Sertão de Pernambuco, 377 km from Recife, the former athlete is the first woman to occupy the second highest post in the committee hierarchy.
It will accumulate the role of mission head of the Brazilian delegation at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Yane’s arrival at the entity, on the plate headed by Marco Antônio La Porta, was an appointment of Cacob (Athletes Commission of the Olympic Committee of Brazil), from which she was president until 2024, when she walked away to run for office .
With the victory in the election, she had to move away from the Recife City Hall, where she was for eight years at the head of the Executive Secretariat of Sports of the Secretariat of Tourism, Sport and Leisure.
“My life experience as an athlete, coupled with my experience in public management, the presidency of the athlete committee, all this helped me a lot to better understand the areas of COB. Adding it all, I had the courage to face this challenge.” , said Yane to Sheet.
An event in Rio de Janeiro on the last 30th brought together athletes, former athletes and different entities to celebrate the new board of the committee. At the time, the Pernambuco used their speech to invite other women to occupy spaces that are “traditionally occupied by men.”
The message cheered up the athletes present. For gymnast Jade Barbosa, a bronze medal in team disputes at Paris-2024 games, the position achieved by Yane reflects an effort that many women have made in recent years in search of equality.
“This fight did not start today, yesterday, the day before yesterday, it is many years for us to win. So, it is one of these achievements,” he said. “Now, we know that the path that will be done really is something that will be directed [também para as mulheres]. It’s not that it is egalitarian, but it will meet exactly the needs of each. “
At 33, Jade aims to play the next edition of the Olympic Games. It would be his fourth participation after Beijing-2008, Rio de Janeiro-2016 and Paris-2024. Her victorious history, which includes achievements in worldwide, Pan American games and South American games, is, according to her, the result of a work that had many women as a reference.
“Within my history as a gymnast, I always had by my side strong women, the coordinator of my club, our confederation president [Maria Luciene Cacho Resende, presidente da CBG]… they made and make a difference in my life, “he said.
“So we are happy with Yane. I feel very represented,” he added.
In the coming years, the former modern pentathlo athlete will play a prominent role in major events. In addition to heading the mission of the Brazilian delegation at the Los Angeles-2028 Games, she will lead Brazil’s delegations at the South American Games (2026) and the Pan American Games (2027).
“I am very happy with these challenges and I am also calm because I have a lot of time until the Los Angeles games to prepare and be an excellent mission boss,” said the former athlete, who has a graduate in Physical Education and has graduate school in public management.
Reporter traveled at the invitation of COB
