Victor Valente

Men's Tennis

Where Are They Now Wednesday – Victor Valente

Our student-athletes are what make Georgia State so special. Our 'Where Are They Now Wednesday' segments feature former student-athletes from across all of our sports and not only look back on their accomplishments, but where they are now.

Victor Valente put together an impressive career both on the court and in the classroom while a member of the Georgia State men's tennis team. To go along with becoming the first player in program history to participate in the USTA Indoor Intercollegiate Championship, he was also an ITA Southeast Regional Championship Runner-up, earned multiple All-CAA honors, and help the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament. He also remains the only student-athlete in GSU history to be honored as an Elite 90 Award Winner given to the student-athlete with the top GPA at an NCAA Championship.

Talk a little bit about what you have been up to the last nine years since graduating from Georgia State (work, sports, family)
Leaving Atlanta was a very difficult decision. I still have great friends in the city that I consider family. Since I returned to Brazil, I have continued to study and obtained my degree in Physical Education and then completed my Master's Degree in Sports Ophthalmology at the Federal University of São Paulo. I currently work at my family's swim academy and also as an investment advisor in a family office. Last year I got married in the middle of the pandemic and I confess it was one of the biggest adventures of my life, as I had to cancel my wedding party three times. But like any good student-athlete, I don't give up easily, and today I'm married to my beautiful wife Bianca.

You were a part of an NCAA Tournament team at GSU. Tell us about that experience and what they mean to you all these years later.
Being part of that tournament was something incredible. In my senior year, I had the opportunity to play national tournaments as a team, in doubles, and also in the singles bracket. This is something I will never forget for the rest of my life. All that atmosphere, all that environment, all the support from the team and the university are unique things that you only experience once in your life.

Georgia State won a lot of great matches during your four years in Atlanta and you became the first player in school history to participate in the USTA/ITA Indoor Intercollegiate Championship. What was that experience like?
Having the opportunity to play on the courts of a Grand Slam complex (U.S. Open) and walk through the corridors of the main stadium, knowing that there have been legends of the sport there, was something great. In that tournament, I played against the best athletes in the country and made my tennis performance reach another level. I am so grateful to the athletic department at Georgia State University for allowing me to have this experience.

How did your experience at GSU help you get to where you are now?
 In addition to getting my degree, my experience as a student-athlete at GSU made me stronger as a person and helped me to have great time management in my life so I could handle two jobs and still manage to complete my Masters.

Do you still stay in touch with any of your teammates from your time at GSU?
Yes. I keep in touch with my teammates through social media. I made friends during my four years at GSU that I will take with me for the rest of my life.

All these years later, how often do you pick up a racket and play?
I still play at least two times a week. Tennis is an important part of my life and I hope to play for a long time. 

If there is one thing you could go back and tell the college version of yourself, what would it be?
Enjoy the moment!
 
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