Alexandre had a dream to row at the elite level and it took him years to progress. Hear how he overcame hurdles, injuries and life challenges to take a silver at the Pan American Games Rio 2007.

02:00 I started rowing at 15 - a friend introduced me. Got us started together at Sport Club Corinthians Paulista club - they do soccer. most of the rowing clubs became soccer clubs.

07:30 I tried soccer, basketball and tennis - but I stayed at rowing. I was weak. I had good coaches and made a lot of friends. The environment was great - good people, good values.

09:00 I left Corinthians and went to the other club Clube de Regatas Bandeirante... and I started to win.

I started in the coxed four and 8. sweep rowing

10:50 Why the pair is so special

It's the most difficult but I find it the easiest. My rowing brother- José Roberto Nascimento.

We don't need to talk - we communicate just by thinking. I know when he is not in a good mood. I am stroke - when I change the rhythm I don't need to tell him.

15:00 Trust is the most important thing. We learned this from rowing.

Mostly I listen and do as asked. Sometimes I have an instinct and I have to trust this too. You need a good relationship with authority people in rowing.

18:00 In 1994 we won national Champs 2+ and 2-

19:00 In 1989 we lost a race because I did what the coach told me to do.

The coach asked for a lot of short strokes at the start and we were last. We finished one second behind Flamengo - they had an Empacher we had a wooden boat. We lost but I was happy because I realised you must listen to your inner voice.

These with more experience who watch you. You feel you can make your own decisions. I was blinkered at the beginning. We are always learning something.

His intention was right - but I learned to trust my instincts

22:00 My rowing dream was to go to the Olympics.

It was 1980 and I watched the Moscow games - Nadia Comaneci.

I trialled in 1994 as I think the best boat in Brazil. A race-off for the Pan American Games but I hurt my back. I stopped rowing entirely at 22 and I did not row for 10 years.

In 2004 I restarted. What if we return to finish what we started?

26:30 I spent 6 months strengthening my back. In March 2006 we were 2nd and back in the National team to get to Beijing (we had to be first in the Pan American Games in 2007). So we didn't go.

29:00 Life lessons from rowing.

Listen to your heart - if you are emotionally balanced - you have to try. After a while you realise you can do the hard training.

We can use these experiences in life when we are tired and want to give up.

Nobody guarantees you a prize it is "maybe"!

Many times I rowed with people I didn't like - I have to do my best to help someone to do their best.

Having a goal - we want to go to Brandenburg 2024 World Masters. Start thinking and planning now.

I want to row to win. it's not ambition- but doing your best with your friends.

When I haven't got a goal I haven't got discipline in my rowing. Rowing changed my life for the better I'm grateful for masters rowers Bandeirante was a master club.

They paid our regatta expenses. and travelled to watch us. The future of rowing is strictly with masters.