In an increasingly demanding and competitive sports scenario, it is becoming urgent to rethink the foundations on which we train our athletes. When we look closely, we realize that the challenges faced by young talents go far beyond training, competitions and technical performance. They involve feelings, insecurities, invisible pressures, difficult choices and an immense need for belonging, guidance and listening.

It was with this expanded and human perspective that the program was born – Building Champions from the Inside Out – an initiative that breaks traditional paradigms and proposes a new model of sports development, focused not only on performance, but on integral formation of the human being.

More than an idea: a movement of transformation

The origin of the program is rooted in something genuine: the active listening. Over the years, in our experiences with clubs, athletes, families, referees and coaches, we have noticed signs that were repeated: the emotional silence of many young people, the distancing of parents who did not know how to support them, the absence of safe spaces for dialogue and reflection. And more seriously, a common feeling that the value of the athlete was linked exclusively to his technical performance.

In view of this, we decided to act. Sport cannot be a place of suffering, loneliness or emotional helplessness. It must also be a space for human growth, identity building and strengthening of values. It was this conviction that gave rise to Formando Campeões.

A proposal with base, soul and direction

The program structure is based on three main pillars:

• Thematic lectures, dynamic and deep, with content directed to the participants’ life stage;
• Conversation circles, where participants can share their experiences, doubts and emotions in a safe, light and respectful environment;
• Guided experiences, which promote self-knowledge, empathy, emotional intelligence and a sense of purpose.

Through these meetings, we address topics that are often neglected but absolutely essential for the sporting journey and for life:

• The importance of emotional intelligence as a balancing tool in pressure contexts;
• The power of conscious decisions and of the self-responsibility in building a career;
• The need for prevent school dropout, especially among young people who experience the dilemma between the dream of being an athlete and the educational reality;
• The promotion of a basic financial and legal education, preparing athletes and their families to deal with contracts, negotiations and future planning.

A collective and affective journey

One of the great differences of the program is that it is not limited to athletes. On the contrary, it also involves the parents, coaches, managers, broadcasters, referees, educators and everyone who is part of the sports ecosystem.

This collective involvement creates a unique atmosphere of connection and belonging. We have already witnessed real changes: more integrated clubs, families closer to their children’s dreams, coaches more aware of their role as character builders, and young athletes who are more confident, calmer and more self-assured.

Each meeting is an opportunity to strengthen bonds, broaden horizons and, most importantly, remind everyone that sport is made by people, with unique emotions, stories and trajectories.

The impact beyond the pitch

The Formando Campeões movement has also sparked a powerful internal movement. Our own team, by facilitating these experiences, finds itself constantly redefining its role. We are no longer just managers, advisors or technical professionals. We are, above all, future caregivers, attentive listeners of real stories and sowers of a culture of integrity, sensitivity and long-term vision.

This program connects directly with other fronts that we have developed with the same intention of elevating sport to a more conscious and sustainable human experience. One example is Building Success, led by Alice Marimon, which works in the field of emotional intelligence and high performance applied to teenagers. And also the Sport with a Purpose, a new project that is being co-created by the athletes themselves and that will be based on youth protagonism and social engagement through sport.

These programs do not compete with each other, they complement and intertwine each other. They all have in common the belief that the human being comes before the athlete.

Why does this matter?

Why the brightest talents can be lost if they are not accompanied with humanity. Because a solid career is not only sustained by victories on the field, but also by emotional structure, well-defined values and support in difficult times. Because taking care of an athlete means looking beyond technique, it means seeing their pain, their doubts, their fears and also their dreams.

And because, deep down, we know that true transformation in sport does not begin on the training plan or on the playing field. It starts within each person. It starts when we decide to care, listen, teach and accompany.

Building champions from the inside out

If we want a fairer, stronger, more ethical and healthier sport, we have to start at the base. And that base is the human being.

This is the heart of our work. This is the invitation we extend to all who walk with us: Let's create champions together, but let them be, above all, champions of themselves.

Team A. Marimon

* Watch the live broadcast on this topic on 06/18/25 on the official profile of A.Marimon Sports Consulting @amarimondesportivo

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