My name is Taira Fernanda Yumi. I am 14 years old. Nice to meet you.

I have loved swimming since I was little. I started taking swimming lessons at the Ibirapuera Olympic Center when I was about seven years old.

Until the fifth grade, I went swimming every morning and went to school in the afternoon.

Starting in the sixth grade, school started in the mornings, so I thought I would no longer be able to swim, but fortunately I was invited by the Pinheiros swimming team and was able to practice there from the afternoon onwards.

I swam for two hours every day from Monday to Saturday, and also did physical exercises three times a week.

I didn't get home until after 8:30 in the evening, so I would finish my evening, do my homework for school, and then go to rest.

Every year, I participated in various competitions. At the beginning of last year, the Brazil Olympics were held in Belo Horizonte, so I participated in five competitions. I came in fourth in the 200m backstroke, finishing one second behind the winner.

Around August, I participated in the Paulista Championships in Bauru and won a gold medal in the 200-meter backstroke.

Every two years, sports competitions for Japanese people are held in Mexico and other countries.

It was held in Chile in 2018, and in February of this year, 2020, it was held at the Japan Country Club in São Paulo.

However, this year, due to the coronavirus, I have been unable to go to school or swim since the end of March.

Since we can no longer go outside, most school and various lessons are now done using cell phones and computers.

Our school is still not back to normal, but sports are slowly starting to pick up. Starting this month, we have been able to go swimming twice a week.

If possible, I would like to continue working hard at both sports and studying.

© 2020 Fernanda Yumi Taira