Kingz Athlete Spotlight: Sarah Galvão

We are officially in the era of jiu-jitsu family legacies. Each year, we’re seeing more and more sons and daughters of former world champions rising through the ranks and dominating their divisions. There is nobody more recognizable among this group of legacy phenoms than Sarah Galvão.

Sarah really needs no introduction, but for those who have been living under a rock, she is the only child of two legendary athletes in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community.

Her father, Andre Galvão, is one of the most decorated BJJ competitors in history, boasting multiple IBJJF World Championships, ADCC World Championships, and UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Championships during his vast career. Her mother, Angelica Galvão, is one of the best and most exciting female competitors of her generation, inspiring women around the globe to pursue excellence on the mats. The couple now run one of the biggest and most successful BJJ teams in the world: Atos Jiu Jitsu.

Sarah is wasting no time in following in their footsteps.  

Since rediscovering her love for jiu-jitsu at the age of twelve, Sarah has absolutely dominated the juvenile divisions. In fact, she became the first juvenile to win the coveted Grand Slam – gold at Euros, Pans, Brasileiros, and the World Championships – in both her division and the absolute. She was promoted to purple belt on the podium by her parents following this momentous achievement.

With her promotion to purple belt, Sarah is now in the adult division, where we have no doubt that she will only continue her record-setting accomplishments.

So, besides a Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenom, who is Sarah Galvão? With her wild mane of curly hair and huge smile, Sarah is hard to miss. On the mat, she has her father’s relentless work ethic and grinding pressure, and her mother’s finesse and elegant style. Off the mat, she’s an incredibly mature and composed teenager living her best life.

Read on to learn more about Sarah and what drives her… 

1. How long have you been training and why did you start?

I started when I was four, but then stopped when I was eight, and only came back again when I was 12. I really only count the years since I was 12 years old, because that’s when I actually understood and enjoyed jiu-jitsu on a different level. So, I’d say five years. I started because of my dad, of course. It was a way I could spend more time with him.

2. What are your goals for the year?

My goals this year are to show that I deserve my purple belt, and to beat the Sarah that I was last year.

3. What has been your greatest accomplishment and why?

My greatest accomplishments so far are definitely my Grand Slam wins. In doing so, I’ve had the privilege to travel the world and showcase my jiu-jitsu with my juvenile group and my parents. It’s such a special accomplishment to me because I am the first and only juvenile to have won a double gold Grand Slam so far, and I’m very proud of the hard work it took to do that.

4. What do you want your legacy to be?

I want my legacy to be like my Dad’s career. I want to break records and set an example for others, especially in the women’s community, since we are in a male-dominated sport. 

5. Who are your role models and why?

My role models are my parents. I grew up around jiu-jitsu, and they taught me everything I needed to know and keep me on the right path. I grew up watching them, and seeing what it takes to be a champion.

6. What is your favorite quote and why?

My favorite quote is from my mom. She always says: “Every fight is a final, fight until the end.” I think it’s something everyone should hear, because sometimes we focus too much on an opponent or a fight that hasn’t even come up yet, and it gets in our way of doing what we need to do. It gets in the way of fighting in the present. Thinking too much in the future can mess with our head and affect our performance, which is why I will always carry these words with me.

7. What advice do you give to those who look up to you?

Some advice I would have is: have fun. I know that’s something that everyone says, but it really is true. This even applies to when you’re fighting. If you fight unhappy, you’re not going to fight your best. That’s why you have to fight happy, train happy, be happy and always find the good in things. You will definitely see a difference.

8. What does being a Kingz sponsored athlete mean to you?

I’ve been a Kingz Athlete since I was 15. To me that is such a big deal, and I will forever be grateful for everything they have done in my life. They definitely helped to take me places I never thought I would go. Kingz is the best in the game and I am proud to be a Kingz Athlete.