Por CBTM
CBTM: You are the number 1 of Brazil, born in Ceará. Which the difficulties the more than you faced for being Northeastern?
THIAGO MONTEIRO: Well, in the Northeast of Brazil we have the eternal problem of the support lack and structure for the great majority of the sports. In the table tennis it is not very different, but I happily had support of the family and of people involved in the table tennis. And in that time there was still some prejudice, because there were not many Northeasterners in the Brazilian selection.
CBTM: Which were their largest happiness up to now in the sport. Do you have some sorrow?
THIAGO: I think in all of the phases of the career had happiness. I give the same importance my first medal, of revelation that I won for instance in the first tournament that I played, to the 7 years, that I give my medals Pan Americanas. Each conquest marks a phase of the career. Today my largest happiness is to live to be devoted exclusively to the sport, a privilege to mine to see.
CBTM: You and Hugo Hoyama were classified by technical index for the American South. Which are their main opponents in this competition?
THIAGO: Argentina and Chile possess the most experienced players and that you/they are very accustomed facing us. But Brazil is going with a motivated team and homogeneous. We have our chances for there.
CBTM: In this new group of table-tennis players, how Efraim Carvalho, Humberto Manhani among other, which are the largest promises of Brazilian TM in his/her opinion?
THIAGO: Brazil is a country that counts with great talents. We have creative and intelligent players, but the one that worries is to know that not always those talents will have the support for us to develop the whole potential. A feather, but that is happening is not now! We have those that you mentioned and several other!
CBTM: In the hours of leisure, what do you like to do? Does he/she practice another sport?
THIAGO: I tan to read, to practice other sports, as soccer and surf. But only in the vacations because of the lesions! To go to the beach, to leave to have dinner, to go to the movies healthy programs that also do.
CBTM: Which the best player than you already faced?
THIAGO: I faced good several players, world champions and Olympic, it is a pleasure to face them, but it arrives one hour that that no longer it is enough and the one that interests is to win of them.
CBTM: Pan 2007. As number 1 of the country, you have great chances of conquering one of the vacancies for the competition. What would mean to dispute a competition as this home?
THIAGO: Well, I believe that we will have the exact idea when it arrives the hour of Pan. First to classify and later to think in Pan. Of course of so much that it is spoken in him doesn't have as not imagining to play in front of the supporter. He/she wanted a lot of people that knows me to see to play me since many don't understand because I dedicate so much time to the trainings. The people need to have a better idea of than is the table tennis, they need to see live.
CBTM: Is it true that you speak 6 languages? Which are and like you he/she did learn?
THIAGO: I speak English, French and basic Spanish besides the Portuguese. I learned a reasonable Swedish when I lived there, but I forgot a lot of thing and I only remember basic things, some words. As taste of learning languages thinks he/she gives to learn one more or two until the end of the career.
CBTM: TM struggles unceasingly for the massificação of the sport. What do you think it can be done for that?
THIAGO: I believe that we should qualify, to remunerate the technicians and to try to take the table tennis the schools. And in the part of high income we have to be more professional. If the people see that they can live of table tennis, they will start to take seriously.
CBTM: This year is year of elections. For what do you wait of the new rulers? Does he/she already have some presidenciável in mind?
THIAGO: I don't have any presidenciável in mind. In spite of not to trust politicians and not to like of the subject, I think us citizens have to find out to I respect and to take that subject seriously. Reinvidicar more. To stop putting the fault only in them and to assume our part in the responsibility.
CBTM: Most of the athletes says that the Olympics is a page the part in their careers. What do mean the Olympic Games for you?
THIAGO: The Olympics was a dream that I accomplished, those things that you imagine when child and suddenly he/she sees himself there. But on the other hand I waited plus, I thought the coexistence among the athletes is not all this and that what does be worth is to return of there with medal. Everybody found very distant, finally, I thought that it went another thing.
CBTM: Which the largest friendship than you did in the sport? Is there some enmity?
THIAGO: I feel very well with almost everybody that I live together. On those whole years playing thereabout I do have some friends, many acquaintances, but enmity even doesn't have none. As I very only travel I am forced linking with a lot of people and today I know that in several places that I pass can call somebody in case he/she needs help.
CBTM: The life of any athlete is sacrificante. Are you sorry for some of these sacrifices?
THIAGO: Athlete's life is sacrificante, but not so much. He/she has the physical wear and tear, the trips and the time had been of house, far away from the family and that is hard. But who is in the sport usually does something that likes and he/she doesn't have anything better of the than to wake up every day for doing what likes. For me would be very more sacrifice to wake up every day and to be 8 hours in an office, for instance.
CBTM: Do you have some superstition before the game?
THIAGO: Several. I have the classic ones and the ones that invention to each competition. But usually nothing else is of what to repeat the same preparation ritual before the game. I have a towel of the luck that stays my home in Fortaleza why is already old. But now until that I am calmer!!!
