PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil — Not only is Mosiah Rodrigues, 22, the sole male representing Brazil in gymnastics in the Athens 2004 Summer Games, but he will also be the first Olympic gymnast from his country in 12 years.
Still, he comes well qualified. He is the Brazilian gymnastics champion in individual all-around, and is among the top 10 qualifiers in the pre-Olympics of 2003, distinguishing himself on the pommel horse, parallel bars and high bars. In March he won the silver medal in the World Cup gymnastics, and took a bronze in the Pan-American Games in 2002. He won his first state title at age 10, and by age 12 was top-ranked in the South American Gymnastics Championship.
A second-year student in physical education, he said, "It is necessary to have lots of willpower to outline one's goals, and have objectives that are clear and possible." He said he receives a great deal of support from leaders of the Church and his family.
"Certainly without my family, I would not be here representing my country in the Olympics," he said.
His family includes his single-parent mother, a woman of great faith who named him after a Book of Mormon prophet before she was a member of the Church. He's had Church influence ever since, and it has been a factor in his success, he believes. "Principles, such as the Word of Wisdom, help me so much, because in gymnastics even drinking large amounts of alcohol is considered doping."
He said that as "an athlete, always facing challenges, exceeding limits, I feel the need to recognize and ask for help from the Lord. One must continually seek Christ, because (an athlete) being alone would be very difficult."
"He is very disciplined and dedicated in what he does," said President Jorge H.J. Brehm of the Porto Alegre Brazil North Stake. "The perseverance — the faith — has helped him arrive at where he is." President Brehm, who has known Mosiah since he was small, said that the athlete has been determined to practice since he was 7 years old, and trains about six hours a day. "He always trained so much; his hands bear testimony of that."
Gymnastics is not as popular in Brazil as in other countries, and Mosiah has no sponsors. Rather, he works from a small stipend from his club and the Brazilian Confederation of Gymnastics. But his faith has helped him to prevail.
"I bear my testimony that the hand of the Lord is with me and has given me strength, safety and the necessary precision in each one of my routines," he said.
