Joílson da Silva

Joílson Bernardo da Silva (born 29 August 1987) is a Brazilian former athlete who specialised in middle and long-distance running events.

Joílson da Silva

Personal information
Birth name	Joílson Bernardo da Silva
Born	(1987-08-29) 29 August 1987 (age 37) Fortaleza, Brazil
Sport
Country	Brazil
Sport	Athletics
Event	Middle & Long-distance running
Medal record Pan American Games 2011 Guadalajara 5000 m South American Games 2014 Santiago 5000 m

A native of Fortaleza, de Silva started training in athletics as a 15-year old on the streets of his local neighbourhood, running bare-foot as he couldn't afford to buy sneakers. Once he was picked up by a state government program he began training on tracks.^[1] In 2004 he was the South American Youth Champion in the 3000 metres event. His best result in senior athletics was a third-place finish in the 5000 metres at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, where he edged out Mexico's Juan Carlos Romero by two hundredths of a second to claim the bronze medal.^[2]