Larri Passos
{{Short description|Brazilian tennis coach and former tennis player}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| headercolor = yellow
| name = Larri Passos
| full_name = Larri Antônio dos Passos
| birth_date = {{birth date|1957|12|30}}
| birth_place = Rolante, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| occupation = Tennis coach
}}
Larri Antônio dos Passos (born December 30, 1957 in Rolante) is a Brazilian tennis coach and former tennis player. He is best known for being the coach of Gustavo Kuerten.{{cite web|url=http://www.larripassos.com.br|title=Profile|access-date=February 11, 2016}}
Tennis career
He started playing tennis in Novo Hamburgo, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, but early on, he showed greater skill as a coach than as a player. As a teenager, he began teaching tennis, and by 1975, he was already responsible for the tennis school at Sociedade Aliança in Novo Hamburgo.
In 1983, he graduated in physical education from Universidade Feevale and moved to Camboriú, in Santa Catarina. His first professional coaching job was in 1986 with Marcus Vinícius Barbosa, known as "Bocão," one of the most talented junior players of the time.[http://wp.clicrbs.com.br/socialclub/2013/10/14/entrevista-marcus-vinicius-barbosa/?topo=98,2,18,,,15 ClicRBS - Raquetadas do Bocão (October 14, 2013)] Retrieved March 7, 2017 Four years later, he started a project for tennis schools, first in Gaspar, then in Florianópolis, and eventually opened his own academy in Camboriú.
= Guga era =
In 1990, Larri Passos became the coach of a promising young player, the Santa Catarina native Gustavo Kuerten. Under Passos' guidance, Kuerten became one of Brazil's greatest tennis players. As a junior, in 1994, Kuerten won the Copa Gerdau de Tênis in Porto Alegre and reached the final of the Orange Bowl.
In 1997, the year Gustavo Kuerten won his first French Open, Larri Passos was named Coach of the Year by the Italian press. Together, Guga and Passos reached the top of the world rankings and won over 20 major international titles.
At the beginning of 2005, Gustavo Kuerten announced that Larri would no longer be his coach. However, after a year and a half, in 2006, Larri announced that he would again work with Kuerten until the latter's final tournament.
= Post-Guga =
Larri coached several promising WTA players, such as Tamira Paszek from Austria and veteran Slovakian player Daniela Hantuchová. He also coached Marcos Daniel and Thomaz Bellucci in 2011,[http://globoesporte.globo.com/tenis/noticia/2010/12/ex-tecnico-de-guga-larri-passos-e-o-novo-treinador-de-thomaz-bellucci.html Globo Esporte - Ex-Guga coach Larri Passos is the new coach of Thomaz Bellucci (December 6, 2010)] Retrieved March 7, 2017 until Bellucci ended the partnership due to poor results.
Larri also coached Tiago Fernandes, a Brazilian player who won the Australian Open junior title but retired from professional tennis at age 21 in 2014. He also coached Beatriz Haddad Maia, the runner-up in the junior girls' doubles at Roland Garros in 2012, who switched coaches in 2014.
Currently, he runs the Instituto Larri Passos, a high-performance tennis training center.{{cite web|url=http://www.larripassos.com.br/instituto|title=Institute|access-date=February 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604055754/http://www.larripassos.com.br/instituto|archive-date=June 4, 2016}}
Over the years, Larri Passos has participated in various tennis-related events, always aiming to promote the sport in Brazil. He has been present at multiple initiatives to foster tennis in different states, including events at clubs and academies, where he shared his vast experience with young athletes and coaches. These actions reinforce Larri's ongoing commitment to the development of tennis in the country, inspiring new generations to follow in his footsteps.{{cite web|last=POPULAR|first=Redação O.|url=https://opopular.com.br/esporte/larri-passos-ex-tecnico-de-guga-participa-de-evento-no-country-clube-1.2013991|title=Larri Passos, former coach of Guga, participates in event at Country Club|date=2020-03-13|access-date=2024-09-19|website=O Popular|language=pt-br}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abcmais.com/esportes/larri-passos-ex-treinador-de-guga-ajuda-a-fomentar-o-tenis-no-estado/|title=Larri Passos, former coach of Guga, helps promote tennis in the state|date=2023-05-26|access-date=2024-09-19|website=abc+ {{!}} abcmais.com|language=pt-BR}}{{cite web | url=https://www.abcmais.com/esportes/larri-passos-participa-de-evento-por-um-tenis-grande-no-rio-grande-em-porto-alegre/ | title=Larri Passos participa de evento "Por um tênis grande no Rio Grande" em Porto Alegre | date=22 May 2023 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.band.uol.com.br/videos/ex-tecnico-de-guga-ensina-tenis-em-rio-preto-17049842|title=Former coach of Guga teaches tennis in Rio Preto|date=2024-10-16|access-date=2024-09-19|website=www.band.uol.com.br|language=pt-BR}}
Honors
In February 2019, Larri Passos was honored during the Rio Open, the largest tennis tournament in South America. The event celebrated Larri's legacy, recognizing his role in taking Guga to the top of the world rankings, making him one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The tribute included the presence of former players and sports authorities who highlighted Larri's significant impact on Brazilian and global tennis. During the event, Guga reunited with Larri, and the moment was filled with emotion, emphasizing their deep bond.{{cite web|last=admin|url=https://www.gazetaesportiva.com/mais-esportes/tenis/rio-open-prepara-homenagem-a-larri-passos-tecnico-que-levou-guga-ao-topo/|title=Rio Open prepares tribute to Larri Passos, the coach who took Guga to the top|date=2019-01-18|access-date=2024-09-19|website=Gazeta Esportiva|language=pt-BR}}{{cite web|url=https://blogs.oglobo.globo.com/top-spin/post/larri-passos-sera-homenageado-pelo-rio-open-quanta-honra.html|title=Larri Passos to be honored by the Rio Open: 'What an honor' {{!}} Top Spin - O Globo|access-date=2024-09-19|website=blogs.oglobo.globo.com}}
Diagnosis and battle against cancer
In February 2019, Larri Passos publicly revealed that he was battling cancer. The former coach was diagnosed with prostate cancer and shared his journey of treatment and struggle against the disease. Larri explained that, although the diagnosis was a significant challenge, he faced it with the same determination he demonstrated throughout his sports career. The revelation deeply moved many, including Guga, who recalled Larri's impact on his life and career.{{cite web|url=https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/tenis/ultimas-noticias/2019/02/21/guga-reencontra-larri-e-chora-talvez-chegou-a-hora-de-usa-lo-de-novo.htm|title=Guga reunites with Larri and cries: "Maybe it's time to use him again"|access-date=2024-09-19|website=www.uol.com.br|language=pt-br}}{{cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/2019/02/ex-tecnico-de-guga-larri-passos-revela-ter-sido-diagnosticado-com-cancer.shtml|title=Former coach of Guga, Larri Passos reveals he was diagnosed with cancer - 21/02/2019 - Esporte - Folha|access-date=2024-09-19|website=www1.folha.uol.com.br}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lance.com.br/tenis/larri-passos-revela-luta-contra-cancer.html.amp|title=Larri Passos receives tribute at Rio Open and reveals battle against cancer|date=2019-02-21|access-date=2024-09-19|website=www.lance.com.br|language=pt-br}}
In 2020, Larri Passos shared more details about his battle with prostate cancer, which he considered one of the greatest challenges of his life. Larri mentioned that he faced cancer with the same determination he used to train his athletes, always striving to overcome adversities with strength and resilience. He emphasized that, despite the difficulties, he managed to overcome the disease, and this experience made him even stronger and more determined to contribute to the growth of Brazilian tennis.{{cite web|url=https://www.otempo.com.br/mobile/sports/especializados/larri-passos-o-cancer-era-o-desafio-que-faltava-em-minha-vida-1.2316782|title=Larri Passos: 'Cancer was the challenge I was missing in my life'|access-date=2024-09-19|website=www.otempo.com.br}}
In August 2021, Larri Passos revealed that he had won his battle against prostate cancer. He spoke about how this experience transformed him and reinforced his positive outlook on life. After this personal victory, Larri continued to dedicate himself to the development of tennis in Brazil, now with a renewed perspective on life and health.{{cite web|url=https://esportes.r7.com/olimpiadas/ex-treinador-de-guga-revela-ter-lutado-contra-cancer-na-prostata-23082021/|title=Former coach of Guga reveals he battled prostate cancer|date=2019-02-21|access-date=2024-09-19|website=R7 Esportes|language=pt-BR}}
2024: Documentary on Guga's career
In September 2024, a documentary about the career of Gustavo Kuerten was released on Disney+, highlighting the crucial role of Larri Passos in the success of Brazil's greatest tennis player. The documentary, produced by Disney, narrates Guga's journey from the beginning to the peak of his career, with an emphasis on his partnership with Larri, which was fundamental to the athlete's achievements. The release of the documentary further reinforced Larri's importance in the history of Brazilian and international tennis.{{cite web|last=Francischini|first=Guto|url=https://espnpressroom.com/brazil/press-releases/2024/09/disney-lanca-documentario-sobre-a-carreira-de-gustavo-kuerten-maior-tenista-brasileiro-da-historia/|title=Disney+ releases documentary on the career of Gustavo Kuerten, Brazil's greatest tennis player|date=2024-09-09|access-date=2024-09-19|website=ESPN MediaZone Brazil|language=pt-BR}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.larripassos.com.br Official website]
{{Portal|Tennis|Rio Grande do Sul}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Brazilian tennis coaches