Solonei da Silva
Encyclopedia
Solonei Rocha da Silva (born 18 April 1982 in Penápolis
, São Paulo
) is a Brazil
ian long-distance runner who competes in marathon
races. He has a personal best of 2:11:32 hours and won the gold medal
in the marathon at the 2011 Pan American Games
.
Da Silva worked as a waste collector
in Penápolis during his twenties and it was not until 2009, at the age of 27, that he became interested in athletics. Upon the suggestion of his wife, he entered a local race held in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Although it was his first attempt at competing over long distances, he surprised himself by finishing in third place.
The following year he entered a 10,000 metres track race in Rio de Janeiro
and won in a time of 29:39.72 minutes. At the São Paulo Half Marathon Corpore in April 2010 he came third, then he stepped up in distance to make his debut in the full marathon a month later. He surprised the field at the Porto Alegre Marathon by winning on his first attempt in a time of 2:15:45 hours. Under the guidance of two-time Olympian Clodoaldo do Carmo, da Silva represented Esporte Clube Pinheiros
in the 10,000 m at the Troféu Brasil de Atletismo (the Brazilian championships) and came fourth at his first national level event.
He began his 2011 season by winning his first South American title as he defeated fellow Brazilian Gládson Barbosa with a sprint finish in the men's 12 km race at the South American Cross Country Championships
in Asunción, Paraguay. In March he ran in his first race in Europe: he was the first non-African finisher at the Lisbon Half Marathon
, where he came tenth in a time of 1:04:10 hours. He then travelled to Italy to compete at the Padua Marathon and he ran a personal best of 2:11:32 hours to finish fourth behind Kenya's Peter Kimeli Some. Da Silva returned to Brazil and later that year placed fourth nationally in both the 5000 metres
and 10,000 m (including a personal best of 14:12.81 minutes in the former event).
His performances in the marathon gained him selection for the Brazilian team at the 2011 Pan American Games
. He entered the competition with the fastest time and delivered on this by winning the gold medal
in a time of 2:16:37 hours, having over half a minute to spare over runner-up Diego Colorado
of Colombia. This made it a fourth consecutive win for Brazil in the men's Pan American marathon, following on from victories by Vanderlei de Lima
and Franck de Almeida.
Penápolis
Penápolis is a municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The population is of 58,510 inhabitants . The city has an area of 710.8 km².-Historical formation:...
, São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
) is a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian long-distance runner who competes in marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
races. He has a personal best of 2:11:32 hours and won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the marathon at the 2011 Pan American Games
2011 Pan American Games
The 2011 Pan American Games, officially the XVI Pan American Games, was an international multi-sport event that was held from October 14–30, 2011 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Some events were held in the nearby cities of Ciudad Guzmán, Puerto Vallarta, Lagos de Moreno and Tapalpa...
.
Da Silva worked as a waste collector
Waste collector
A waste collector is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and remove refuse and recyclables from residential, commercial, industrial or other collection site for further processing and disposal...
in Penápolis during his twenties and it was not until 2009, at the age of 27, that he became interested in athletics. Upon the suggestion of his wife, he entered a local race held in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Although it was his first attempt at competing over long distances, he surprised himself by finishing in third place.
The following year he entered a 10,000 metres track race in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
and won in a time of 29:39.72 minutes. At the São Paulo Half Marathon Corpore in April 2010 he came third, then he stepped up in distance to make his debut in the full marathon a month later. He surprised the field at the Porto Alegre Marathon by winning on his first attempt in a time of 2:15:45 hours. Under the guidance of two-time Olympian Clodoaldo do Carmo, da Silva represented Esporte Clube Pinheiros
Esporte Clube Pinheiros
The Esporte Clube Pinheiros is a sports and social club located in the Brazilian metropolis São Paulo, founded in 1899 as Sport Club Germânia by German immigrants. It has around 35,000 members and its terrain comprises 170,000 m² in the well regarded quarter of Jardim Europa...
in the 10,000 m at the Troféu Brasil de Atletismo (the Brazilian championships) and came fourth at his first national level event.
He began his 2011 season by winning his first South American title as he defeated fellow Brazilian Gládson Barbosa with a sprint finish in the men's 12 km race at the South American Cross Country Championships
South American Cross Country Championships
The South American Cross Country Championships is an annual continental cross country running competition for athletes from South America or, more specifically, member countries of CONSUDATLE. It was first held in 1986, making it the oldest of the continental cross country championships...
in Asunción, Paraguay. In March he ran in his first race in Europe: he was the first non-African finisher at the Lisbon Half Marathon
Lisbon Half Marathon
First held in 1991, the race has consistently delivered fast winning times. However, many of these times have been unratifiable for record purposes due to factors including: the course being too short , excessive tailwinds, as well as there being an excessive drop in altitude, which boosted...
, where he came tenth in a time of 1:04:10 hours. He then travelled to Italy to compete at the Padua Marathon and he ran a personal best of 2:11:32 hours to finish fourth behind Kenya's Peter Kimeli Some. Da Silva returned to Brazil and later that year placed fourth nationally in both the 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
and 10,000 m (including a personal best of 14:12.81 minutes in the former event).
His performances in the marathon gained him selection for the Brazilian team at the 2011 Pan American Games
Athletics at the 2011 Pan American Games
Athletics competitions at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara was held from October 23 to October 30 at the newly built Telmex Athletics Stadium. The racewalking and marathon events were held on the temporary Guadalajara Circuit and Route and the Pan American Marathon circuit respectively...
. He entered the competition with the fastest time and delivered on this by winning the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in a time of 2:16:37 hours, having over half a minute to spare over runner-up Diego Colorado
Diego Colorado
Diego Alberto Colorado is a male long-distance runner from Colombia. In October 2011, he won the silver medal in the men's marathon event at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, clocking a total time of 2:17.13, behind Brazil's Solonei Silva and before the bronze winner, fellow...
of Colombia. This made it a fourth consecutive win for Brazil in the men's Pan American marathon, following on from victories by Vanderlei de Lima
Vanderlei de Lima
Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima is a former long-distance runner who specialised in marathons. He received international renown after a spectator, a laicized Irish priest, attacked him at the 2004 Summer Olympics marathon while he was leading the race at 35 km...
and Franck de Almeida.