Olympic Kite Surfer Sends Powerful Message After Saving Drowning Woman

It comes as no news that drowning cases in São Luís have been on the rise. The very beaches that come with the promise of joy and pretty sunsets have been riddled with tragedy. In fact, in 2025 alone, São Luís has reported 45 incidents. On New Year’s Day, a couple even drowned at Olho d’Água beach. To add on, a 17-year-old lost his life just days earlier on São Marcos beach. Something similar happened on the 10th of January as another young woman began to drown!

The past Sunday, a young woman was caught in the treacherous waters at Olho d’Água. She was struggling against the tide and was seconds away from being pulled further away into the tide. As she puts it, she “really could not handle it if I spent 5 minutes on the high sea even knowing how to swim and using anti-drowning techniques.” However, it was no lifeguard who saved her. It was an Olympian who came to the rescue!

Not lifeguards, but Bruno Lobo to the rescue!

The Brazilian Olympic kite swimmer, Bruno Lobo, was in the sea to test out his new camera. As Lobo himself puts it in an Instagram reel he posted, “I made the first flight, a 5-hour flight in the afternoon, I placed it here on the plate and went out to change the positioning.” However post that, he went in for the second time in the direction of Litoraña. “At that time I normally wouldn’t go in that direction, so I was in the right place, at the right time,” he added. So what happened?

As Bruno Lobo went towards Litoraña, his eyes caught a woman drowning. “She was already quite deep, the tide had turned,” added Lobo. However, what could’ve turned into another tale of tragedy was stopped by the Olympic kite swimmer. Lobo went out to her and “used the rescue equipment, the pipe, and took some water out of her and took her to the sand.” His kite surfing board provided support for navigating the currents. The young woman went on to thank Lobo and even said, “Thank you for being my salvation.” So exactly is this brave man with a heart of gold?

So who exactly is the man with the heart of gold?

Bruno Lobo is a man who is no stranger to challenge! Lobo is a Brazilian athlete who started his sporting journey in swimming. However, once he turned 15, he changed gears and went into triathlons. After the switch, Lobo went on to win the national title and even competed for a spot in the Youth Olympic Games. Unfortunately, the injuries that followed left his dream unfulfilled. And then, like a blessing, kite surfing came into his life.

Like a true champion, it did not take him long to master kitesurfing. By 2016, Lobo was a Brazilian champion in the Formula Kite class. Since then, Lobo has had a career to remember. Bruno Lobo went on to win two gold medals at the Pan American Games and secure a spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics. From winning vents like the Allianz Regatta to being a standout in the Olympic test event in Marseille, Lobo has made a place for himself in the kite surfing world.

Bruno’s Olympic journey is a testament to his resilience. From winning major events like the Allianz Regatta to standing out in the Olympic test event in Marseille, he’s proven to be a force in the sport. Representing South America on the global stage, Bruno isn’t just a kite surfer; he’s an inspiration. Whether on the sea or saving lives, Bruno Lobo is always in his element. And as Lobo puts it, “I’m happy to have helped this young lady and I wish her all the best. A big hug.”