Elói Schleder

Born to a farmer in 1951, Elói Schleder began a career in athletics when he was 17-years-old, soon becoming an impressive long-distance runner. In 1972 Schleder won the 5,000 metres and finished second in the 10,000 metres at the Brazilian University Games in Fortaleza. Two years later he was selected to represent the national team and finished eighth in the 5,000 metres at the 1974 South American Championships. He then moved up to the marathon, this time winning bronze in the event at the 1977 South American Championships.

In 1979 Schleder ran in both the 10,000 metres and the marathon at the Pan American Games, finishing seventh and ninth, respectively. He also had success in the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the South American Championships, first winning silver in 1979, followed by bronze in 1981. His focus, however, remained with the marathon, which saw him win gold at the Sao Paulo Marathon in 1982 along with silver in the same event in Frankfurt in the same year. These performances earned Schleder a place on the Brazilian Olympic team for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, where he finished 23rd. The following year he finally won gold at the South American Championships when he won the marathon event in Santiago. After he retired he worked as a physical education teacher in São Paulo.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-12:54 (1986).