Marinalva de Almeida

Almeida was born in Santa Isabel do Ivaí, Paraná in 1977. She and her five siblings moved away when she was four.[1] When she was fifteen and living in Mato Grosso do Sul she had her leg amputated as the result of a car accident. She had borrowed a boy's bike and a car had crushed her leg. Although amputation was the doctors proposed action her mother refused them permission. Her sister's intercession allowed the operation to be performed.[1] As a part of her recovery she tried various sports. A year later she married and had three children in São Paulo state.[2]

She was introduced to sport by a friend who persuaded her to enter a race. She then took a gymnastics course at Senai. An early race was one designed for amputees who at that time completed the 10 km race using crutches.[3] In 2012 she completed a 15 km course on crutches.[2]

Almeida competed in sailing at the 2016 Paralympics, together with Bruno Landgraf. They placed eighth in the Skud 18 class.[4]