Willy Richard Frantz Seewald (1900–1929): The Brazilian Sportsman in the 1924 Olympic Games

Abstract

This study investigates evidence of sporting values in the trajectory of the Brazilian athlete Willy Seewald, who participated in the 1924 Olympic games in Paris. The documental corpus analyzed consisted of interviews, newspapers, magazines, documents and other material, such as medals and diplomas from the Seewald family’s personal collection. The interpretation of the material shows that Willy Seewald played several sports but excelled in Brazilian and South American competitions in javelin throwing. The athlete’s participation in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, France, was surrounded by several difficulties that he was able to surmount due to his cultural background and his relationship with the community. Evidence was found that, throughout his sporting career, the athlete incorporated values consistent with the Olympic values and was referred to as a ‘moral giant’. Although he died in 1929, he is still remembered in the Brazilian sporting scene.