A little over two weeks ago, distance athlete Jonathan Fagundes shocked his peers and onlookers alike by showing up to participate in the South American 10K Road Race fully clad in a Santa Claus suit, complete with the beard.
Jonathan Fagundes
It was a spectacle that was much too early for the impending Christmas season. At the time, there was no explanation offered regarding Fagundes’s attire, and this had left many puzzled, especially on whether the athlete was serious about winning the race while clothed in the restrictive outfit.
Jonathan Fagundes posing with his children after completing the SA 10K as ‘Fit Santa’
Upon querying, Guyana Times Sport has been able to ascertain Fagundes’s motive, which has all to do with raising awareness for underprivileged youths, and encouraging others to take up the sport. This accomplished athlete, who has recent accolades like a win at the Yarrowkabra 10K race and a second placement at the St Cuthbert’s Half-Marathon, told this publication that his show on November 21 at the SA 10K race was aimed at rediscovering his roots.
“For the most recent race, South American 10K Road Race, I felt best to remind myself of why I’m running, and to just have fun, as well as to influence others to enjoy the sport in addition to my activism,” Fagundes revealed.
He added, “I’m a very passionate athlete, and I’m driven to giving my all, and that includes living a clean and decent life. I have had to self-motivate in order to break barriers. In view of this, I feel it’s my obligation to pass on the lessons learnt to help motivate the youths, so they don’t have to do it alone.”
Giving this publication an overview on what he hopes to achieve through his activism, Fagundes shared, “I wish to promote sports from the junior level, as well as to encourage them to stay in school. Stay away from drugs, and instead have them focus on building healthy lifestyles that would help ensure they have a healthy, fit and fruitful future.”
The athlete emphasised on the integral role that sports can play in developing youths into productive citizens, a goal that he hopes to achieve through encouraging them to take up athletics.
On that note, Fagundes added, “Sports play a major role in teaching the youths discipline, hard work, how to lose and how to win. (It) forces them to take an account of their mental and physical health, and results in healthy habits. These habits cultivated by sports develop and strengthen the youths and result in overall more grounded and productive adults.”
It is by no measure a secret that Fagundes’s advocacy would not do the job on its own. As such, the athlete shared how he thinks other athletes can make a play for cause.
“I think other athletes can take a page out of my book and use their voices at the podium and during off-times to speak to the youths, encouraging them through sharing personal struggles, wins and satisfaction that they have received from being involved in sports,” Fagundes said. “School visits or zoom calls during school sessions can be an avenue that athletes, including myself, can do.”
On that note, Fagundes went on to detail the visibility that his ‘Fit Santa’ run has had, and how corporate entities have been mobilising alongside his cause.
“Since my debut as Fit Santa at the South American 10K Road Race, three companies have approached me: The New India Assurance Company T&T Limited has sponsored Fit Santa to host a radio programme to promote physical and mental health, diet and exercise. The New India Assurance Co T&T Ltd, Guyana International Energy Conference & Expo 2022, and A + Tech Solutions have also sponsored Fit Santa to do a food drive during this Christmas season, to feed the less fortunate and homeless,” the athlete disclosed to this publication, giving an idea of just how quickly his cause has caught on.
Those who wish to join the ‘Fit Santa’ cause are being urged to make contact with ‘Fit Santa’ himself on telephone number 642-4714.
