Brazilian Olympic marathon runner Daniel Ferreira do Nascimento has been missing for more than a month, according to his family, with his mother making an emotional public appeal as police continue investigating his disappearance.
Nascimento, who represented Brazil in the men's marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, was last seen leaving his home in Paraguaçu Paulista, in the state of São Paulo, at around 7 p.m. local time on June 19, according to his mother, Valdirense de Paula Ferreira. She said he left carrying only a black backpack and has not been heard from since.
© Sportsfile via Getty ImagesFamily files missing person report
According to the Brazilian Athletics Confederation, Nascimento's mother and his five siblings officially filed a missing person report on July 27, more than a month after he disappeared. The federation also appealed to the athletics community to help locate the 28-year-old runner.
In a post shared on Instagram, Ferreira revealed that her son has been dealing with mental health challenges. She wrote that Nascimento left home with only a backpack: “Does anyone have any information about my son? His name is Daniel Nascimento, better known by the nickname Armero. He was a marathon runner. He has psychological issues. He left home on June 19, 2026, at around 7:00 p.m., carrying only a black backpack. Any reliable information would be greatly appreciated.”
© Getty Images for adidasOn Tuesday, which marked his 28th birthday, Ferreira shared another heartfelt message alongside a photo of the two together. "Congratulations, Daniel! Come back home. May God bless you, light your path, and bring you home safely. Happy birthday!" she wrote in Portuguese.
Police investigation underway
The São Paulo Secretariat of Public Security confirmed that the General Investigations Department in Assis is handling the missing persons investigation.
Authorities have not publicly released additional details about Nascimento's disappearance, and no confirmed sightings have been announced.
A decorated marathon career interrupted
Known by the nicknames Armero and Danielzinho, Nascimento established himself as one of South America's top distance runners. According to The Times of India, he remains the South American marathon record holder, earning international recognition through standout performances that included competing at the Tokyo Olympics and representing Brazil at the World Athletics Championships.
© Sportsfile via Getty ImagesHowever, his athletic career took a dramatic turn in July 2024, when he tested positive for three banned substances, ruling him out of the Paris Olympics.
The following year, the Athletics Integrity Unit imposed a five-year suspension, keeping him out of competition until July 2029.
Team previously revealed mental health struggles
After the positive anti-doping test in July 2024, Nascimento's team released a statement on Instagram acknowledging the athlete's ongoing mental health struggles. "Mental health is important for any professional, from any field, to perform, and Daniel deals with traumas and mental issues that have led him to his worst stage in recent months," the statement said.
© LatinContent via Getty ImagesThe post added, "Communication with the athlete is practically non-existent, and all our efforts are focused on helping him with appropriate treatments." The statement remains the most recent post published on Nascimento's Instagram account.
Mother's heartbreak
While serving his suspension, Nascimento reportedly returned to live with his mother in Paraguaçu Paulista, where he helped her process cassava, one of Brazil's major crops.
Speaking to Brazilian outlet G1, Ferreira described the emotional toll of not knowing where her son is. "A mother's feeling... a thousand things go through your head," she said. "I think I've lost about 10 kilos. When it rains, you think about a lot of things. It's very difficult."
As the search continues, Brazilian athletics officials and Nascimento's family are urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact local authorities.
