By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Eduardo Ferreira

Black belt of Jiu-Jitsu, Pablo Silva (Gracie Barra BH) had a complicated battle before winning the European championship of Jiu-Jitsu in the featherweight category. To get to Lisbon, where the tournament happened, the Brazilian caught a flight to Spain, in order to get to the championship more easily, but it wasn’t so easy. The diplomatic crisis between the two countries, which caused several deportations in recent months, made Pablo another victim.

"They claimed that I hadn’t got much money. Five hundred Euros for five days isn’t enough?", asked the black belt. Without success, Pablo was sent back to Brazil. A few days from the European, the Brazilian had already dropped of participating of the championship and left the diet, but, when he got to Brazil, he was surprised by excellent news: he could return to Europe, this time, entering by Lisbon. "I was sent back and I got to Lisbon missing only one day for me to fight. I had to lose 7kg again, because I had already dropped the fight", said the athlete, who passed through two athletes to win the gold medal.