General Assembly
Alexandre Manuel Caetano Sequeira
President
With a fascination for the sea nurtured since childhood by National Geographic documentaries, he started swimming at the age of 10 and, over time, also practiced Kendo and Boxing, but never left the chlorine of the pools. In 2019, he discovered open water swimming and hasn’t stopped since. As a diver, he has dived in almost all the oceans. He made his debut in long-distance swims with the Faial-Pico Crossing and now dreams of 10km and longer events. Next challenge: becoming a swimming coach.
Chiara Bedini
1st secretary
Chiara, born in Italy and Portuguese by adoption, is a lover of the sea and everything that surrounds it.
She has always lived by the sea, and vacations are only vacations if they include saltwater or freshwater.
She embraced open water swimming during the pandemic, never stopped, and this activity became a kind of life philosophy.
Strongly convinced that it is never too late to start something new and that the sea and sports activities can bring communities closer and strengthen bonds between people, she sees sharing this interest as a source of new ideas and small individual and collective goals to achieve.
Together, we swim further and better!
Carlos Manuel Sousa Santos Sousa Cyrne
2nd Secretary
A minha paixão no mar é a vela e o windsurf.
My passion for the sea is sailing and windsurfing. Swimming in open water is the indispensable complement to practicing these sports and the best experience that water can offer.
Leadership
Bibiana Elena Schmidt Farias
President
Passionate about entrepreneurship, people, and sports from an early age, I started my athletic life very young in BMX. Later, I went through various sports in my youth, including competitive swimming. I studied Communication, Business Management and Marketing, and Sports Management. When I finished my master’s degree, I started practicing triathlon, took courses to become a triathlon coach, Personal Trainer, and swimming coach, where I discovered my true passion
My motivation is to combine swimming with the pleasure of being in nature safely, which is why I created Swim4fun. It is a school in both theory and practice, offering practical swimming lessons as well as organizing lectures, events, and workshops on various topics such as safety, nutrition, and breathing.
Now I am realizing another dream, founding the Swim4fun Club with the goal of encouraging more people to enjoy the benefits of practicing a comprehensive sport directly connected to nature. Additionally, I aim to motivate, prepare, and guide swimmers to participate in training environments and open water swimming and triathlon events/competitions.
Luis Carlos Martins Fraga
Vice-President
As a child, my most significant encounter with open water was not exactly the most memorable. When I challenged myself to cross a river, my lack of technique and the current betrayed me, and if it weren’t for the watchful eye and quick swimming of my uncle António, it could have ended in tragedy. This resulted in a huge fear of venturing into open water again.
The trauma was only overcome later with specialized training, from swimming in a pool to a Sea Survival Course. The dream of completing an Ironman would be the final test, as it required regular training in open water, sometimes under quite adverse weather and sea conditions. Since then, contact with open water has become as natural as running, cycling, or any other land activity.
Now, through the Swim4fun Club, the goal is to help develop a reference center for Open Water Swimming, providing unparalleled support to all athletes who seek it, as well as fostering a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences.
Mayra Gabriela Alves De Lima
1st secretary
My journey in swimming began as a child, at the age of 6, in the pools of Araraquara, a charming city in the interior of São Paulo
From an early age, I fell in love with aquatic competitions and discovered a true vocation for swimming.
When I moved to Portugal, I was introduced to a new challenge and love: the sea. This vast and mysterious ocean brought new opportunities and, of course, some challenges, like jellyfish. However, with a lot of resilience and determination, I faced these obstacles and continued to improve my skills.
Additionally, I continue to compete and constantly challenge myself. Outside the water, I also dedicate myself to IT project management, combining my passion for sports with my professional career.
Swimming is more than a sport for me; it is a way of life that has taught me valuable lessons about perseverance, discipline, and love for what we do. I am excited to be part of this swimming club and to contribute to the aquatic community.
Fiscal Council
Joana Ventura Paz
President
Originally from São Miguel, in the Azores, I am 37 years old and have been living in Lisbon for 14 years, where I built my career in the financial sector – a choice that, fortunately, helps support the need for wetsuits! I started swimming three years ago and, since then, have found in the sea not just a challenge, but a true source of freedom, inspiration, and community.
Carolina Neffe Durão
1st Treasurer
Carolina was born into a family of athletes: her grandfather was an Olympic pentathlete and her father excelled in rugby. From a young age, she grew up in a sports environment dominated by men, but she always found her own path in sports, starting as a ballerina and staying active with fitness over the years. Carolina is someone who constantly seeks to step out of her comfort zone and embrace new adventures. As an adult, and after having two children, she decided to learn to swim and discovered a true passion for open water swimming. This sport brought her new challenges and transformed her life, also leading her to venture into triathlon. Today, Carolina feels that it is never too late to start and is excited about her journey as an athlete.
Fábio Alexandre Chainho Costa
2nd Treasurer
Half human, half shark.
Since childhood, I have always felt free and comfortable in the water.
I started with swimming lessons, then competitive races, and finally open water swimming, where calmness and freedom come together.
Adventurous and always seeking experiences connected with nature, swimming in the sea is an activity that brings me great happiness and one that I want to keep for life.