We’re looking forward to introducing you to Claudia Vidal. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Claudia, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
When I was in my canoe and the sea was big, after I got out of the wave, I came back to my reality and saw that we, human beings, are nothing compared to the sea.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I come from a simple family in Brazil, but I always received a lot of love and respect from my family. At 15, I started working to help my family and pay for my studies. At 17, I met a wonderful man who helped me see life differently and encouraged me to invest more in my studies. He is now my husband; we have been married for 37 years, and I am the mother of two children who make me very proud. Thirty years ago, I began my career as a beautician and became a pioneer and reference in various aesthetic treatments, also helping several interns start their own businesses. At 42, I started practicing water sports, I confess, to distract myself from the excessive workload. That’s where I found myself. I would wake up at 5 a.m. to go to the ocean, and that way, when I went to work, I was always happy. I dedicated myself immensely, hiring a personal trainer in and out of the water and a nutritionist. That’s how I excelled at canoeing. I didn’t yet have my own canoe; I rented them from other people. Until one day, a patient offered me his canoe, which he no longer needed because he was overweight. At first, I was very happy, but I didn’t have the money to pay. So I made him an offer: I could keep the canoe and pay for the laser hair removal he wanted. That’s how I got my first canoe.
I’ve always competed because it’s good for me. It also helped me get through menopause without any major problems. With a strong sport, a good diet, and a healthy mind, I didn’t even realize I was already in menopause. At home, I always had the support of my husband. My children were jealous at first because I started traveling with the team to compete in championships, and they missed their mother, who was always there. One day, one of them asked, “Wow, Mom, now all you think and talk about is the canoe.” I knew it was jealousy, but… I was living my life differently, without high heels, fancy clothes, and everything that a businesswoman who owns three clinics did. I wore shorts and flip-flops, rode my bike, sunbathed, and swam in the ocean every day. What could be better?
Because my work always involved a lot of women, I started losing some patients to breast cancer. So I founded a project called REMADA ROSA, where I gave women the opportunity to get in a canoe and feel the freedom of the sun on their faces and the sound of the waves. It was a success and today it’s celebrated in October throughout Brazil, wherever canoeing is practiced. At 50, I became a Brazilian and South American champion. For the first time in my life, I saw that age doesn’t limit anyone. So I kept going, and today I’m a three-time Brazilian and South American champion. At 55, I moved to Miami, where my youngest son had been living and studying for five years. He told me to apply for an extraordinary ability visa, as an athlete. I said, “Son, I’m too old for that. The US won’t want an old athlete.” So I applied. It was a difficult decision, as I was in the middle of the Brazilian championship with a spot in the World Cup in England. I had to withdraw because I wouldn’t have time to submit the documents. Well, my team went and finished second.
Today, I continue competing in Florida and maintain my top spot wherever I go. I went to Hawaii for an unforgettable competition, and among 120 canoes, my team, the first made up of Brazilian women, finished 17th in the rankings. Here I am studying at the Senior Miami School, learning a new language, but as I said, age doesn’t limit anyone.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I lifted the Brazilian champion’s trophy at 50 years old
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When my mother died on the day of the Brazilian championship with a spot in the world championship in Hawaii, I didi’t go to her funeral. I went to the hospital to say goodbye and returned to compete, because I’m sure that’s what she wanted. I got four spots to compete in different categories in Hawaii.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
My father.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was a woman who never gives up and who lives her life with a lot of love and solidarity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Claudiavidal_cv
- Facebook: Claudia Vidal
- Youtube: Claudia Vidal
Image Credits
Eddie Paes
