A homeless Brazilian man recently received international attention after a video of him competing in a running race in flip-flops went viral on social media.
When Isaque dos Santos Pinho decided to show up at the starting line of an 8km running race in his hometown of Garrafão do Norte on July 27, he had no idea it would change his life forever. The local homeless man had been drinking and thought that running would help alleviate the symptoms of a hangover, so even though he hadn’t registered for the competition like everyone else and was wearing flip-flops instead of running shoes, he darted from the crowd when the starting signal came. The moment was captured on camera by a drone flying overhead, and the footage of the visibly inebriated, flip-flop-wearing man giving it his all immediately got people curious on social media.
Isaque couldn’t keep up the pace for the full 8km, but he did finish the race and got the complementary medal to prove it, despite him not being registered for the event. But the 31-year-old got more than a clear head and a medal for his efforts. After the video of him competing in the race went viral online, people became curious about him, and reporters soon came knocking.
“I had been drinking, and when I saw that crowd, I thought: I’m going to run to get over my hangover,” Isaque said in an interview.
The life story of “Isaque the Runner,” as the hero of our story was dubbed on social media, soon made national headlines in Brazil. He was born in Capitão Poço, another municipality in the state of Pará, and was raised only by his mother after his father abandoned them. His difficult childhood led into a life of alcoholism, which eventually caused him to become homeless in Garrafão do Norte. But Isaque is determined to use this momentous event to turn his life around!
After creating an online profile with the help of Estela Larizzieri, the woman who posted the viral video on social media, Isaque started receiving donations of running shoes, clothing, specialized running glasses, and even invitations to train with professional runners. The Garrafão do Norte municipality reached out to him, offering him invitations to future running events.
“After completing an 8km running race in flip-flops last weekend, Isaac resonated throughout Brazil. He is now frequently seen training on the streets of our city. We are delighted by this story and hope this moment marks the beginning of a new, transformative, and beautiful cycle in Isaac’s life,” the municipality wrote on its website.
Estela Larizzieri also told Globo that she and other activists have already taken Isaque off the streets and that the goal is to build him his own house eventually.
“I stopped drinking because I ran that race. I changed my life, and I want to change it even more. I’m getting a lot of advice, and I’ll never give up,” Isaque enthusiastically told Brazilian media.
