Judoka Leandro Cunha will have a new role on the mat. Instead of training to compete, he will work to improve Canadian athletes. The judoka, born in São José dos Campos, sets sail for the North American country next month.

– Last year I was invited to do a 40-day season in Canada, in Ontario. I did a clinic, with several conferences. And the people of the Federation liked my performance, my CV. They liked my journey and invited me. I am really happy. This is another achievement – ​​said Leandro, born in São José dos Campos, in Vale do Paraíba.

In São José, the athlete is known by the nickname Coxinha. The nickname comes from the beginning of his career. To be able to cover the judoka’s expenses, Leandro’s mother, Lia Cunha, took advantage of her culinary skills to earn money by preparing coxinhas. The snack seller was the athlete himself, who brought the snacks to training, school and even on the street. The highlight of Coxinha’s career was winning gold at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Leandro still doesn’t know when he will travel to Canada, but he estimates it should be done by August. There, he will watch the performances of youth team judokas, focusing on the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru and the Tokyo Olympics (2020).

– The exchange will be very good. It was a very bureaucratic process until this invitation arrived. I am happy for this opportunity. The athletes there have already gone through many transitions from grassroots to professional, so this will be a phase of improvement – ​​said the athlete.

In 2016, before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, he had already expressed his interest in retiring from the mats to begin a new phase of his career (know more).