In the heart of Brazil, in a city named Cuiaba, a young man’s passion for soccer was ignited. As much of the countries youth, Marco Giannotte spent his middle school years playing the beautiful game. From playing 

In January 2020, he joined Montverde Academy (MVA) in Florida, following in the footsteps of his stepsister. However, the global pandemic forced him to return home, where he continued his education and training online through Zoom. 

Returning to MVA for his junior year in August 2021, Marco saw himself facing adversity among all other factors. He was weighing in at 260lbs, and  was determined to change his life. With the unwavering support of Coach Josh, Coach Diego, and Coach Christian, he began to transform his body but his life. He became very disciplined with his lifestyle and attributes the discipline he learned at SIMA as instrumental in this transformation. By the end of the 2022 school year, he not only achieved his goal of transforming his body but was also awarded a SIMA Coach's Award. 

In his senior year he faced much adversity, but persevered and pushed through, stating that SIMA helped create the discipline needed to overcome mental hurdles. To help battle with the struggles he found solace in a new discipline: the gym. After overcoming his mental battles, he powered through and graduated from Montverde. 

After graduating, he attended Rollins College for International Business. However, his newfound love for health and fitness led him to transfer to Florida International University (FIU) to study Medicine after just one semester. He now plans to specialize in Sports Medicine and Endocrinology, to help others who are struggling with the same issues he once faced.

“SIMA prepared me 100%,” he says. “It’s not just about kicking the ball. The discipline behind it is important. It prepares you to be the best you can be, always giving your best both in soccer and in life.”

He recalls a time when he was overweight and struggled to complete a run due to his calves burning. Coach Neira told him it was all mental and that he had to keep pushing. This anecdote encapsulates his journey – the hard things will always be there, and you have to know how to deal with them.

He advises others to "Always believe in what you are doing, always trust the process. One day you can be the worst player, but at the end of the year, you can finish at the top because of your dedication and hard work because of the trust you put into it.”