Brazilian Olympian Daniel Ferreira do Nascimento Found Alive After 44 Days

Former Brazilian Olympic marathoner Daniel Ferreira do Nascimento disappeared on 19 June 2026 from his home in Paraguaçu Paulista, São Paulo state. After 44 days of searching, a passerby recognized him on 1 August 2026 in the eastern district of Belenzinho, São Paulo. Metropolitan Civil Guard officers verified his identity and he was taken to the 30th Police District in Tatuapé, where he was reunited with his family. Police said he was in good physical condition.

Nascimento, who represented Brazil in the Tokyo 2021 Olympic marathon and holds the South American record of 2:04:51 set in Seoul in April 2022, has been serving a five‑year doping suspension imposed in July 2024 after testing positive for drostanolone, metenolone and nandrolone. During his disappearance he walked roughly 370 km, surviving on sugarcane and oranges, and his mother reported he was dealing with mental‑health issues. The case attracted widespread attention and prompted social‑media campaigns by his family.