The five-time world champion Rodolfo Vieira will not be competing this May in Long Beach at the 2015 Worlds.
The superstar will be sidelined due to a nagging lower back injury that already took him out of the 2015 WPJJC, weeks ago in Abu Dhabi.
In an exclusive talk with GRACIEMAG’s Vitor Freitas, he explained why he decided not to compete: “I want to rest out for a while and come back 100%. I have been feeling this lower back pain for a while, but it never stopped me from training. Last year, in Paris, I was training when I felt this terrible pain on my lumbar region. I had to cancel all my seminars at that time and go back to Brazil to treat it. The fact is it did not get better.”
Rodolfo Vieira vs. Marcus Buchecha at the 2011 Worlds
Rodolfo also talked about the support he’s getting from his friends, family and fans: “I want to thank all of those who are behind me, my friend, family and sponsors. Also, I didn’t expect to get so much support on the social medias. I got a lot of messages from people wishing me well and hoping I get better soon. I was so happy with that. I promise that I will heal and get back stronger than ever! People will be proud of me.”
Rodolfo is out of his second Worlds as a black belt. He also didn’t compete in 2010. He has four titles in his weight division (2011-2013 – heavyweight, 2014 – superheavy) and the 2011 black belt open class title.
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