After winning a relay silver medal in his first Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008, the 20-year-old Brazilian surprised the world in London this year with an amazing last 50 metres to beat South African favourite Oscar Pistorius and win the T44 200 metres Paralympic gold medal.
It was Pistorius’ first ever 200 metres defeat and secured global headlines for Fonteles Oliveira, who had both legs amputated at the age of 21 days after an intestinal infection led to septicemia. He took up athletics at the age of eight and now he will be one of the big home names to watch when the Paralympic Games comes to Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
