Valdenor dos Santos

{{Short description|Brazilian long-distance runner}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| birth_name = Valdenor Pereira dos Santos

| nationality =

| residence =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|12|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = São Raimundo Nonato, Brazil

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height =

| weight =

| country = {{BRA}}

| sport = Athletics

| event = Long-distance running

| club =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}

{{Medal|Silver|1995 Mar del Plata|10,000m}}

}}

Valdenor Pereira dos Santos (born 21 December 1969) is a Brazilian former long-distance runner.

Born in São Raimundo Nonato, dos Santos started running professionally at the age of 15.{{cite news |last1=Oliveira |first1=Euclid |title=Atleta de renome nacional vence maratona |url=http://www.jornaldiariodonorte.com.br/noticias/atleta-de-renome-nacional-vence-maratona-5028 |work=Jornal Diário do Norte |date=22 March 2010 |language=pt-br}} He featured in four editions of the World Championships during the 1990s but never in the Olympics, coming closest in 1996 when he seemed to be in the team for Atlanta, only for a change in the qualification rules to then rule him out.{{cite web |title=Valdenor Pereira: regularidade a toda prova |url=https://www.webrun.com.br/valdenor-pereira-regularidade-a-toda-prova/ |website=Webrun |language=pt-BR |date=7 February 2004}}

An 11-time national champion in long-distance events, dos Santos completed the 5,000 & 10,000 metres double at the 1991 South American Championships. His successes in road race events include back to back wins at the Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa.{{cite news |title=Brazilian runners control Classic |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/02/28/brazilian-runners-control-classic/ |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=28 February 1993 |language=en}} He won a silver medal for Brazil in the 10,000 metres at the 1995 Pan American Games and also that year ran the Carlsbad 5000 race in 13:30 to set a South American record in the 5 km which still stands. He is a former South American record holder for the 15 km.{{cite news |title=Valdenor dos Santos é o destaque da etapa de Brasília |url=https://jornaldebrasilia.com.br/mais-esportes/valdenor-dos-santos-e-o-destaque-da-etapa-de-brasilia/ |work=Jornal de Brasília |date=22 November 2006 |language=pt-BR}}