Maya Gabeira is an 18-year-old National Brazilian. She was born and raised in Sintra, Brazil. She was a member of the Sintra da Tijuca-SA Kids Club and currently resides in Vitoria do Cascais, Brazil. However, her greatest claim to fame would be winning the very first ever World Title for women’s surfing on her very first attempt, on February 9, 2021 in Copacabana, Brazil. She is also an active competitor in the Brazilian bikini water sport called “Bikini Jiu Jitsu”.
Maya Gabeleira has a very interesting background and all at once, it is also very inspiring. Growing up in a family with five other children in the family, she never had any idea about being such a champion athlete or world class surfer, but through sheer persistence and hard work, she eventually earned a degree in Physics. Once there, she pursued her Master’s degree in mathematics and joined the team of Doctor Eudes Coelho, who was working as a research scientist at the University of Lisbon. Despite her American background, Gabeleira became a very devout Brazilian fan. She attended classes regularly at the Vitoria campus as well as at the National Physical Institute of Rio de Janeiro, where she began her extensive training in Jiu Jitsu.
At the age of eighteen, Maya was scheduled to compete for the Brazil National Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship, but unfortunately could not attend due to a pre-arranged visit to her grandmother. Despite this setback, however, she managed to win a very thrilling match against Zolla Lagosio (which happens to be the sister of former Miss Fitness USA Saraocentrhea Lagosio) and got the recognition she so desperately wanted. Inevitably, she decided to pursue a professional career in Jiu Jitsu.