Yane Marques

Yane Márcia Campos da Fonseca Marques was born on January 7, 1984, in Afogados da Ingazeira, Pernambuco, Brazil. At age 11, she relocated to Recife, Pernambuco’s capital, where she began her athletic career as a swimmer for Clube Náutico Capibaribe. In 2003, Marques transitioned to modern pentathlon after winning a biathle competition. Just one year after this transition, she became both Brazilian and South American champion in the sport. Her change of sport was part of a strategic plan by the newly formed Brazilian pentathlon confederation to popularize the discipline.

Marques’ career gained international recognition with her gold medal win at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, which secured her place in the 2008 Summer Olympics. At the Beijing Olympics, she finished in 18th place. In 2009, Marques joined the Brazilian Army, providing her access to enhanced scholarship opportunities and training facilities. Her performance continued to improve, reaching third in the world rankings in 2011, a year that also saw her earn a silver medal at the Pan American Games and three medals at the Military World Games.

Her most significant achievement came at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where she earned a bronze medal, making her the first Latin American and only woman to medal in Modern Pentathlon at those Games. Following this success, she rose to second in worldwide rankings. In 2016, Marques was chosen by popular vote to be Brazil’s flagbearer for the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, making her the second woman to hold this honor for Brazil. She holds a degree in physical education from UNINASSAU in Recife and is married to fellow pentathlete Aloísio Sandes. In 2021, Marques became the President of the Olympic Athletes Commission in Brazil, further cementing her influence in sports administration.