Column in Folha: Mathematics shapes life trajectories.

Ricardo Oliveira, from Ceará, was born on February 17, 1989, in Várzea Alegre, more than 400 km from Fortaleza. As a baby, he was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a neurological disease that affects the spinal cord. In an extraordinary journey of overcoming the illness and the difficulties inherent to his humble origins, Ricardo became a seven-time medalist in the Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools (OBMEP), which also opened the way for higher education: at the end of 2016, he graduated with a degree in Industrial Mechatronics Technology, with excellent grades.

The son of farmers from the rural area of Várzea Alegre, even access to education was a problem. Besides living far from school, it was almost impossible for a wheelchair to navigate the potholed dirt roads: many times his father had to take him in a wheelbarrow. For this reason, his parents, Francisca and Joaquim, ended up choosing to educate their son at home, despite having little schooling themselves. It was Francisca who taught Ricardo to read and write, in addition to teaching him the fundamental operations of mathematics.

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That same year, his brother Ronildo participated in the first edition of OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools), winning a bronze medal. Inspired, Ricardo decided to try again the following year, and he won gold! "I simply couldn't believe it. How could a physically disabled boy, from a humble family, living on an isolated farm in the interior of Ceará, and who practically had no access to a classroom, win a gold medal in a national-level competition?" In 2005, teacher Erileuza Jerônimo, director of the Joaquim Alves de Oliveira municipal school, learned of his situation and worked hard to ensure Ricardo could access formal education. The solution to overcome the problem of transportation was for the teachers to give classes at his home. That's how, at 17 years old, Ricardo became a 6th-grade student after passing a knowledge validation test.

In 2007, he became a two-time champion in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools). This achievement earned him recognition at the national awards ceremony in the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro: he was invited to the stage to receive a special tribute from the then President of the Republic, Lula. But Ricardo didn't stop there: in total, he won five gold medals (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012) and two silver medals (2010 and 2011), in addition to many others in school competitions in astronomy and Portuguese language.

Success opened some doors. With the support of the city hall, in 2008 the family moved to the center of Várzea Alegre, and Ricardo enrolled in the Presidente Castelo Branco municipal school, where he could finally attend classes and where he would complete his basic education.

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