Natalia Guitler

Natalia Guitler (born 4 June 1987) is a Brazilian former professional tennis player, freestyle footballer, footvolley player, teqball player, businesswoman and digital influencer.

She is a seven-time Footvolley world champion and a teqball world champion, recognized for her contributions to the growth of women's Footvolley and teqball. Guitler has also gained prominence for her collaborations with high-profile athletes like Neymar and Ronaldinho Gaúcho and her role in promoting sports through her training center and social media presence.

Biography

Guitler was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her family is originally from Argentina, from where her parents emigrated in 1980. She is the fourth daughter of Leonor Rosa Maman and Cesar Alberto Guitler. She has three older brothers, Gaston, Felipe and Lucas. Growing up in a condominium with access to football and tennis courts, she was introduced to sports at a young age by her family, particularly her brothers and father. She began playing football and tennis as a child, showing early talent in both.

Her family's Argentine heritage led her to train in Argentina during her teenage years, where she pursued a professional tennis career.

Tennis career When Guitler was just four years old, she started playing tennis, a sport that led her to live in Argentina for five years. On 6 July 2009, she reached her highest WTA singles ranking of 454 whilst her best doubles ranking was 461 on 2 November 2009. Guitler has won one singles and four doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. She left professional tennis at the end of 2009. She won titles at the junior level but faced challenges due to limited competitive opportunities in Brazil and the high costs of pursuing the sport abroad.

During this period, she briefly explored other sports, including football, handebol, surfing, snooker, altinha, and bocha, reflecting her broad passion for athletics. She later earned a degree in Administration and a postgraduate degree in Sports Marketing, preparing for a career beyond athletics.

In 2019, Guitler and Vieira won the teqball world championship in Budapest, Hungary, making her the first woman to achieve this title.

Her success was attributed to her work with Master Coach Zé André, who provided sports coaching to enhance her focus, pressure management, and performance.

She expressed optimism about teqball's potential inclusion in the 2028 Olympics, citing its inclusion in the 2023 European Games, though the sport lacked recognition by the International Olympic Committee at the time.

In December, she appeared on the gamified podcast PlayerTalks, where she discussed her career, resilience, and the importance of soft skills like teamwork and focus.

Footvolley career

In 2010, while still in Argentina, Guitler was introduced to Footvoley by one of her brothers, sparking an immediate passion for the sport. Initially a hobby, Footvoleybecame a serious pursuit after she retired from tennis.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Guitler adapted her training with the help of personal trainer Ricardo Lapa, focusing on bodyweight exercises to maintain conditioning while unable to train on the beach.

Both Footvoleyand teqball grew in popularity during this period due to their outdoor nature and minimal participant requirements.

Natalia has gained national and international fame by showing her entire category in Footvolley and futmesa matches against well-known athletes like Neymar and Ronaldinho among others.

Her talent earned her the signing of an agreement with adidas, representing the brand as an ambassador for women's football and with Mikasa, signing her official Futvolley ball.

Recognition and Media Presence (2021–2022)

In 2021, Guitler's prominence increased through media appearances and accolades. In February, she participated in the "Reis e Rainhas do Drible" event, representing Team Falcão and showcasing her skills alongside futsal star Amandinha.

By late 2021, Guitler had won three Rainha da Praia titles, six Brazilian Footvoleychampionships, and two world titles: one in Footvoleywith Vanessa Tabarez in Copacabana and another in teqball with Rafaella Fontes in Poland. In August, she appeared on the OtaLab program, discussing her role in inspiring women in sports, the financial challenges of living solely from futevôlei and teqball, and her experiences with sexism in both sports.

She revealed that her income primarily came from social media and sponsorships as an influencer, not from her sports achievements. The CT, located near Posto 6, opened classes on November 3, 2022, with Guitler developing the methodology alongside coaches Pamella Leobons and Marcelo Lyra. They defeated the United States in the final, reinforcing their dominance.

ITF Circuit finals $10,000 tournaments

Singles (1–2)

Doubles (4–4)