Susana Ribeiro

Susana Schnarndorf Ribeiro (Porto Alegre, October 12, 1967) is a Brazilian Paralympic swimmer. In 2005, after a lengthy triathlon career, at the age of 37, Schnarndorf began to experience the first symptoms of a mysterious degenerative disease that was later diagnosed as multiple system atrophy (MSA). After a break from professional athletics, Schnarndorf returned to the sports world as a swimmer and is presently a member of the Brazilian Paralympic Swimming Team. Professional life Susana began her swimming career at age of 11 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, under the coaching of Mauri Fonseca. She was a five-time Brazilian triathlon champion, competing in numerous races between 1993 and 1997. Susana competed in the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. She moved to Rio de Janeiro and married Brazilian triathlete Alexandre Ribeiro, with whom she participated in several international triathlon competitions. Susana competed in a total of 13 WTC Ironman Triathlons, winning six of them. Along with Alexandre Ribeiro, Susana had three children: Kaillani, Kaipo and Maila. However, in 2005, just a few months after the birth of her daughter, the couple divorced. Later that year, Schnarndorf began to feel the first symptoms of a mysterious degenerative disease that was later diagnosed as Multiple System Atrophy. Susana won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, representing her country of Brazil in the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay category. Multiple System Atrophy It took several years before Schnarndorf received the correct diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy. Her condition worsened in 2008, when she lost coordination of the left side of her body. As a result of her progressive disability, Schnarndorf was unable to raise her three children alone, causing them to move into their father's home. Multiple system atrophy (MSA) causes degeneration of multiple parts of the nervous system and results in muscle rigidity, incoordination, and a progressive decline in function of vital organs such as the lungs and heart. Neurological damage is irreversible and permanent. The life expectancy varies from 5 to 10 years.