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5x European Champ Lucio Lagarto: ‘I’ve Tried 7 Times With No Success To Get A Visa For The US To Compete At The Worlds’

 

Photo: Davis Shu Photography

Photo: Davis Shu Photography

Lucio Lagarto, the black belt from Gracie Barra, won again last weekend in Lisbon, Portugal. This is now his fifth title at the Europeans (four in weight and 1 in absolute). Settled in London, where he heads the branch of Gracie Barra Knightsbridge, he has reconciled the life of a teacher and athlete and even having little time to train, came out with another gold medal in the competition that opens the Jiu-Jitsu competition calendar.

Lucio Lagarto won the Europeans, has beaten cancer, but so far has never been able to compete in the US where the 2 biggest competitions are held: the Pan and the Worlds. The Brazilian black belt will try again this week, to get the visa for the eighth time in order to compete at the Pan American and World, which take place in California.

He told Tatame about his success at the Europeans and his Visa troubles:

“The European Championship is the opening of the competition season. So, I enjoyed my work, yes, but I need to change some things. Anyway, I consider myself a hero, because I can reconcile with my life as a teacher, manage my gym in Knightsbridge and at age 33, can compete with the kids. And that’s not easy! ”

“I am applying my visa this week again. There I go (laughs). I hope they will not deny it, but it would be the eighth time that my visa is denied. But I do not give up … If I get a visa, I will go to the Pan “.

Let’s hope that Lagarto gets the chance to competeat the Pan and worlds. He deserves it as he has beaten some serious world class opponents over the past years such as Buchecha and Rafael Lovato Jr: