"VAN" (Sports Desk, New Delhi - 01.10.2025) :: When Thalita Vitoria Simplicio da Silva stepped onto the track at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for her favourite event—the women’s T11 400m—at the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, her stride was firm, her focus unwavering, and her golden hair glowed under the floodlights. Moments later, the Brazilian sprinter crossed the finish line first, sinking into the celebration of her fourth consecutive gold. But for Thalita, this medal felt different from all the rest—it was less about the finish line and more about the journey that carried her here.
Thalita now stands as the most decorated T11 400m runner in World Para Athletics Championships history, having clinched titles in 2019, 2023, 2024, and now 2025. She also owns two silver medals in the T11 200m, along with a bronze each in the 200m and 400m. At the Paralympic Games, she has taken home silver medals in the 200m, 400m, and 4x100m relay. Together, these honours place her firmly among the greatest athletes the event has ever seen.
The road, however, was far from smooth. For Thalita, the New Delhi gold carries a deeply personal meaning. Speaking after the race, she confessed:
“This year has been mentally very difficult. Only God and the people closest to me know how much I have struggled. This medal is not just a medal—it reflects my character, my personality, and it carries the weight of all the experiences I have endured.”
At just 26, Thalita has already established herself as one of Brazil’s most reliable Paralympic stars. Yet 2025 tested her in ways she had never imagined. Away from cameras and podiums, she wrestled with exhaustion, mental strain, and the crushing pressure of expectations.
“Many times I felt like I had lost control,” she admitted. “Life felt messy, and I kept pushing myself without pause. Honestly, I needed a break—but athletes rarely give themselves that chance. Now, after this win, I won’t demand more from myself than I can give. This medal tells me I can finally breathe again.”
For her, New Delhi is not just the closing of a chapter—it is the beginning of a new cycle. With the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games on the horizon, Thalita sees this as a turning point.
“I have time until 2028 to put everything in order—grow as a person, improve as a professional. I want balance. That’s what this medal means: it’s not just proof of performance, it’s proof that I can rebuild myself.”
Thalita is known not just for her speed but for her openness and charisma. While many athletes adhere strictly to discipline and stoicism, she is unafraid to reveal her humour and quirks. Asked about her eye-catching golden hair, she burst out laughing.
“I recently went back to ballet, and I regretted not borrowing some props. So I had to improvise and create a look of my own. The real challenge now is getting rid of it—yesterday it took me ages to untangle my hair, and I hadn’t even washed it! Today, honestly, only Jesus was with me in that battle.”
With her fourth successive gold, Thalita Simplicio has strengthened her legacy as one of the sport’s most iconic figures—but perhaps more importantly, she has rediscovered herself along the way.
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