Brazilian Olympic long jump champion Maurren Maggi has launched an internet fundraising campaign to bankroll her bid for gold at the Rio 2016 Games.
The 37-year-old has not had a sponsor since January last year and has set a goal of raising 100,000 Brazilian reais ($43,000) to cover the professional costs of her Olympic preparation, reported Xinhua.
"Many people ask me: 'If Maurren Maggi cannot get a sponsor, what chance do the other athletes have?' I ask myself the same question," Maggi said on her campaign web site.
"I hope that through this campaign I can create a new movement in Brazil where the athletes unite and support each other in a democratic and open manner that is directly linked to the public."
In return for their contributions, fans will have the chance to win prizes such as signed T-shirts and even meals with the athlete.
Her gold at the Beijing 2008 Games made Maggi the first Brazilian woman to triumph in an individual Olympic event.
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She is also the South American record holder for the 100m hurdles and triple jump.
Maggi's campaign comes almost a year after Brazilian Olympic champion gymnast Arthur Zanetti threatened to switch nationalities due to a lack of public funding.