On May 16, Tamires Morena de Araujo Frossard, the Brazilian pivot of Gloria 2018 Bistrița-Năsăud, turns 31. Born in Rio de Janeiro but adopted by Romania since 2019, Tamires is not only a continental champion with Brazil but also a quiet yet decisive presence in Romanian handball. After her time in Brăila, she went on to play in two European finals — one of them with Gloria. On the occasion of her birthday, we spoke with her about her career, life, and… home.
1. How do you remember your childhood in Rio de Janeiro and how did it influence your sports career?
TMA: Sport has always been very important to me. In my childhood, I experienced many beautiful moments, and most of them were through sports.
2. What did you feel when you played for Brazil at the 2016 Olympic Games?
TMA: It was an honor to live that moment in my hometown, in my country, with my family and friends by my side. 2016 was a turbulent year for me because during the preparations, my grandfather passed away. But I fought hard to be among the 14 selected players — it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in sports.
3. You’ve played in several countries. What’s special about handball in Romania?
TMA: Out of all the countries I’ve played in, I think Romania is the place where I felt the most welcomed. I adapted very quickly. Back then in Brăila, there weren’t many foreign players — it was just me and maybe one more, if I’m not mistaken. Because of that, I ended up learning the Romanian language faster. I feel like Romanians have that warm Latin blood, just like my culture of welcoming and embracing others, so it was easier to adapt. Romania is like a second home for me — I have friends and people who have been part of my life. Romanian culture is very contagious. Plus, the Romanian league is one of the best in the world, in my opinion.
4. What does Gloria Bistrița-Năsăud mean to you?
TMA: Bistrița holds a very special place in my heart. Here, I feel like I’m part of a family. I remember every step we’ve taken as a team, playing in the old arena, with all the fans supporting us with so much energy. I’ve witnessed the transformation of this club through titles and achievements — the Romanian League, the Supercup, EHF, the Romanian Cup. Seeing how far we’ve come as a team and as a club in the Champions League makes me feel very proud and emotional. Because for me, Bistrița is more than just a team — Bistrița is family.
5. If you could turn back time, would you change anything in your career?
TMA: I wouldn’t change a thing. Believe me, everything I’ve been through made me the person I am today. I’m very proud of who I am, and I don’t regret any of my choices.
6. What does it mean to you to play a European final with Gloria?
TMA: Personally, it has always been a dream of mine to win a medal in the EHF. But experiencing that with this team really was a dream come true. I’m in love with Gloria’s fans, especially those who give up everything to follow us — whether they’re near or far. Our second place 🥈 definitely felt like gold to me, considering everything we went through during the season. Just making it to the final already made us champions. I’m just very proud and grateful.
7. How does your family in Brazil support your career from afar?
TMA: My family has always been my biggest motivation. I remember when I was very young, my parents worked all night selling food on the streets, and the next day, my father would take me to training without even sleeping. I started playing this sport when I was 9 years old, always with a lot of encouragement from my family. The distance from them has definitely been one of the biggest challenges in my career, but they always made me feel close — supporting me and pushing me to keep going and fight for my life in this sport.
8. What has been the hardest moment of your career and how did you overcome it?
TMA: I’ve been through a few very hard moments. The first was the death of my grandfather. I was preparing for the 2016 Olympics, and I couldn’t attend his funeral or mourn properly. I suffered for years from the pain of not being able to hug him one last time.
The second was when my father had an accident and almost died. I was here in Romania in 2020, during the pandemic, and I couldn’t travel to Brazil at that time. I had to play and deal with the whole situation — it was extremely difficult.
The third one is unfortunately happening now. On April 28, I received the devastating news that my best friend and soul brother passed away, tragically, at the age of 33. Everything happened so fast. I never imagined I’d go through something like this while being here, and it’s definitely one of the greatest pains I’ve ever felt. It’s a very difficult time. I’m grieving, I cry every day, and I carry immense sadness. But I had to keep going and do my job.
9. What message do you have for the Bistrița fans and the supporters of Gloria who back you in every match?
TMA: Thank you for always being by our side — whether we win or lose, whether we play well or not, whether we’re up or down. You’re incredible and inspire us to keep going and to fight with all the energy you give us. Thank you for all the love, Gloria.
Foto credit: Gloria 2018 BN
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