Dani Barão becomes first Grêmio athlete to graduate through university partnership | OneFootball

Dani Barão has graduated through Grêmio’s partnership with Faculdade Sogipa, becoming the first in her family to earn a university diploma.

In January she became the first Grêmio athlete to have both started and finished a degree via the scheme, and she now holds both licentiate and bachelor qualifications in Physical Education, according to Globo.com.

Raised in Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro state, she began her licentiate in 2018 thanks to her mother, Elizabeth Alves, who spent 30 years working in a hotel laundry and used her savings to fund the fees. Daily trips to neighbouring Barra do Piraí and two bus fares reinforced her resolve to finish that course, then pursue the bachelor’s.

After joining Grêmio in 2022, she waited a year before enrolling in the new programme. She paused her studies twice due to psychological strain while balancing football and classes. A final semester module ran only in the morning, clashing with training, and she relied on flexibility from both club and college.

On the pitch, she has won the Gauchão Feminino three times and the Brasil Ladies Cup with the Mosqueteiras. She says her studies have broadened her view of sport and could shape a future in physical preparation after playing. The longstanding Sogipa tie-up offers scholarships to Grêmio athletes and staff, and she credits it with changing her life, including improving her mother’s home.

Source: Globo.com