Just a couple weeks ago, Brazilian athlete Ronaldo Silva was standing at the top of the podium at the UAEJJF World Pro. A week later, he was a Brasileiro silver medalist. But on Monday night, the 18-year-old purple belt was hospitalized with a stroke.

A post from the Dream Art Project reported that Silva suffered the stroke while performing a “simple grip exercise on the bar.” While it’s still unclear how the stroke will affect the young athlete, he has been showing promising signs of recovery — he’s lucid, eating on his own, and was able to answer questions. In fact, when asked at what weight he’d be a world champion, Silva is said to have replied, “featherweight.”

The full post reads as follows:

“Good afternoon everyone.

Our dear athlete and friend Ronaldo Silva had an ischemic stroke on Monday night (approximately 9:20 pm) during a simple grip training on the bar and the picture is really serious. The choice for thrombolytic medication to clear the vessel was made in a very efficient time, thanks mainly to the speed with which his friends acted to take him to the hospital. His brain did not show considerable swelling, which could aggravate the situation and signify emergency decompression surgery by removing part of the skull cap. But unfortunately, the damaged area of ​​the brain, although small, brought a motor deficit on the left side of his body, and possible other consequences can not yet be ruled out. Even so, there is already a noticeable and favorable evolution as to his sensitivity to touch on the left arm, leg and face. In addition, Ronaldo has been lucid, aware, listening and processing information well, already eating alone and speaking with assurance. That meant until he answered a question from Isaac about what weight he will be world champion. He said, looking firmly: PENA (besides speaking that he was hungry). The rarity of an event like this in an 18-year-old athlete also brings us strong hopes. Add to this the strength, courage and faith of Ronaldo, we know we will get out of this. These first 48 hours were very critical (and still are) and he is in constant monitoring of the area affected by CT scan, admitted to the ICU. Doctors will be on the lookout for causes and thereby assist in the recovery process. The range of factors is not small. The picture is still serious, uncertain and unfortunately it is too soon for an accurate prognosis. We thank you immensely for the excellent medical picture of the Hospital SP, linked to the Escola Paulista de Medicina, and its division of Neurology. The help is not only technical, but a great affection with Ronaldo.

This moment of rehabilitation demands something that we are sure that our entire community can give, which is PRAYER and OPTIMISM. May God, as always, choose the right side of the battle.

.

We are one. We are Ronaldo.”

The Jiu-Jitsu Times will provide updates to this story and any opportunities to help Silva in his recovery as they become available.