David Leao grew up in Itacaré, a small city that has a culture of surfing and fishing. His grandparents lived on an island, which he visited every summer. Growing up watching his grandmother cook at a beachside restaurant and his grandfather fish and paddle in canoes, set the foundations for what would be a life-long connection to the ocean. David’s first sport was Judo, which he started at 3 years old and went on to win numerous national titles, following in the footsteps of his brother and father.

David’s godfather was the one who took him out to paddle for the first time when he was 11 years old. It started as a fun activity but quickly turned competitive when his teacher recognised his immense potential. David has since fulfilled and exceeded this potential. He was champion of the Aloha spirit festival, Champion of the Junior European tour, 2nd place in the Pacific Paddle Games in 2018 and was Vice-Brazilian champion in the sprints. When David is not training and competing, he loves to cook and works on sustainable projects in his hometown.