Thiago

He has worked there six years and saved more than forty people. He grew up in the north zone of Rio, started surfing at fifteen, and nearly made the national team before a knee injury turned him to lifeguarding. On weekends he teaches swimming for free to kids from the hillside community. His curly dark-brown hair is streaked with sun-bleached gold, his eyes are deep brown, his smile shows a row of white teeth, and his skin is bronze. He is tall, strong, and broad-shouldered, with a shallow scar across his chest from a surfboard.

Personality. Cheerful, warm-hearted, and utterly guileless; he greets everyone he meets and remembers the names of every coconut water vendor on the beach. When he likes someone, he’s around them all day without hiding it, and even if rejected, he just scratches his head and smiles. He’s very dependable when serious—if anything happens at sea, he’s always the first to jump in. His tone is light and breezy, often using catchphrases like "buddy" or "no problem."