One of Brazil’s standout figures during the South American Youth Games in Panama is Davi Vallim, a young swimmer who is beginning to carve his own path toward a promising future that could place him among the best in the world. In a conversation with SportsIn, the rising talent reflected on his remarkable performance, in which he claimed eight gold medals and one silver, along with five individual records.

Since the age of 11 months, Vallim developed a connection with swimming in his native Minas Gerais. From there, he progressed into competitive sport within prestigious institutions such as Minas Tenis Clube, standing out in regional events before earning a place in the national youth team. That journey has now led to international success, including his achievements in Panama. “I’m very happy with my results, I feel very satisfied with what I’ve been able to achieve here,” he admitted.

The example of César Cielo

His performances also took him to the Junior World Championships in Romania 2025, and at these South American Games he met his goals against top-level competitors, including fellow Brazilians such as Kaua Santos, Arthur Werner and Celso Ferreira, all of whom contributed to Brazil’s dominance.

Performances like Vallim’s naturally evoke comparisons with some of Brazil’s great swimmers, such as César Cielo, an Olympic champion and medallist. However, Vallim does not feel additional pressure beyond his own ambitions, even as he draws inspiration from the Olympic legend. “I wouldn’t say it adds pressure, but I do see César Cielo as a great example of high performance in Brazil,” said the 18-year-old. “I know Brazil has a strong base, especially in sprints, but nowadays we’re seeing more medley swimmers, many in butterfly, and I think that’s amazing,” Vallim added.

With these records and such a strong start, Vallim already has ambitions that go beyond his current category, although he remains focused on progressing step by step. “I’m aiming for the Olympic Games, and I think that’s my main goal. But I understand I need to achieve smaller objectives first, because it’s important to go step by step rather than aiming directly at the final goal, as that could lead to disappointment. Yes, I aspire to the Olympic Games and I hope I can get there.”

Music to celebrate his favourite record

Vallim won and set individual records in the 200m individual medley, 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 200m backstroke. “I think the mark that excited me the most was in the 200m individual medley because I repeated 2:01, it ended up being 2:01.38,” he highlighted, while also praising the collective effort in relay events, where he was pleased to come close to breaking the 54-second barrier.

Outside the pool, “apart from swimming, I like playing instruments like the guitar and the piano, which I also love. It’s something I’ve done since I was a child,” revealed Vallim, who also enjoys playing billiards. Now it’s time to celebrate, turning up the music.