Samory Uiki Fraga, ’19, began track at eight years old and has been on the run ever since.
Samory came to Kent State University as an international track and field student-athlete in 2015, where he quickly established himself as a serious scholar and competitor. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations with a double minor in international business and political science. A three-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, Samory still holds the KSU records for both the indoor and outdoor long jump. Now, all his hard work is culminating in the ultimate competition. The 24-year-old Brazilian recently won the long jump at Torneio Cidade de Braganca Paulista with an impressive 8.23-meter leap – that’s more than 27 feet. That’s the 15th best in the world in 2021, and it qualified him for the 2020 Summer Olympics! This July, he travels to Tokyo to compete in the long jump. Get to know Samory in his own words.
KSU: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
SUF: Living by the beach in a comfortable house with my loved ones
KSU: What is your favorite trait in others?
SUF: Resilience, kindness and intelligence
KSU: What trait about yourself do you like the least?
SUF: Laziness
KSU: Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
SUF: My parents
KSU: What is your favorite Kent State memory?
SUF: An International Homecoming Celebration which I presented as host in 2018. It was such a special night with 800+ people attending from 60+ countries that it became probably my favorite memory of Kent State.
KSU: What is your favorite journey?
SUF: A trip to compete Regionals in Lexington, KY with my track teammates
KSU: What is your guilty pleasure?
SUF: Eating bread with nutella and melted cheese
KSU: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
SUF: Make the Brazilian Olympic team
KSU: If you could come back as one person, who would it be?
SUF: LeBron James
KSU: What part of your college experience most formed who you are today?
SUF: The interactions on campus with people from different countries, states and cities was so enriching for me that it changed my life and the way I see the world. I feel truly blessed for having met so many amazing people during my college years, and they all helped me be who I am now.
Learn more about Samory in this recent article and an older article. Check out some of his stats from his time as a Kent State student-athlete.