Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete Livia Barasine has broken her public silence, posting a deeply personal account that identifies her as one of the women who filed formal complaints against Melqui Galvao.
Galvao is the 47-year-old coach arrested last week on charges of SA, SA of a vulnerable person, unauthorized access to a computer system, and threats.
In a statement shared on social media, Barasine described the months since the alleged incident as among the most difficult of her life, shaped by psychological pressure and coordinated efforts by those in Galvao’s circle to prevent her from moving forward with authorities.
“I was the vic tim of a s*xual cri me committed by someone who, until then, I admired. I saw this person as a leader, as an example to be followed. He had my trust, the trust of my parents, and also the trust of the parents of other girls who, like me, were also vict ims,” she wrote.
Barasine clarified that the incident occurred in February and that a confidential investigation had already been underway before the arrest became public. She was candid that speaking out was not something she came to easily.
“For me, it’s very difficult to talk about this. Remembering causes me pain. It wasn’t just my body that was violated, but also my mental health,” she wrote.
According to Barasine, Galvao used his dual standing as a respected jiu-jitsu authority and a civil police officer to discourage any formal action against him.
This aligns with a pattern investigators say they identified across multiple complainants. One of the other women told police that Galvao explicitly warned her that any complaint she filed would find its way back to him, given his position in law enforcement.
“He always made his supposed connections with police authorities clear, as a form of intimidation,” Barasine wrote, adding that she nonetheless retained confidence in the institution.
“I believe in the police and I know they won’t tolerate this. I thank the 8th DDM of São Paulo, who welcomed me and continues working for justice.”
She described sustained pressure aimed at both herself and her family following the incident, including direct threats to her athletic future.
“He threatened my dreams, my career, said I would have no more opportunities in sports,” she wrote.
Beyond that, she described attempts to reverse the burden of responsibility onto her and to coerce her into abandoning the process entirely.
“Beyond that, he tried to reverse the blame, making me believe that the responsibility was mine, and tried to coerce me to give up pursuing this,” she said.
Despite those efforts, Barasine credited the support of her parents and the people around her with giving her the resolve to continue.
“I was only able to report it because I have my parents by my side,” she wrote.
“What gave me courage was knowing that I was not alone. Knowing that he had already done this, and even worse things, with other girls who were also threatened. What made me move forward was understanding that my report could prevent other people from going through the same thing in the future,” she said.
Galvao, who is also the father and mentor of Mica Galvao, widely regarded as the youngest grappler in history to win the five major jiu-jitsu world championships in a single season, was taken into custody after the Court of Justice of São Paulo determined he had been taking active steps to obstruct the investigation and conceal evidence. Authorities were also granted access to all of his electronic devices.
Investigators say his conduct followed a deliberate pattern: building trust with athletes’ families before escalating his behavior toward teenage girls.
A second complainant, now an adult, told investigators that the harassment began when she was 12, with promises of kimonos, sponsorships, and international travel. She said she was taken to a motel at age 14, where the assault occurred.
“He always wanted to make me think it was a very normal situation, that he already had relationships with other students,” she told investigators.
A third girl, who declined to speak publicly, stated in her testimony that Galvao used control over athletes’ diets during competition preparation as a tool for leverage, suggesting that privileges such as being allowed to eat something sweet could be exchanged for physical contact.
The first person to file a formal complaint, a teenager who spoke with Fantástico through a voice call arranged by her mother, described waking during a trip abroad to find Galvao reaching inside her clothing.
When the teenager’s parents confronted Galvao, he responded in a 16-minute audio recording that was later turned over to police.
“I did not put my hand under your daughter’s butt. Her belly was showing and I touched her belly. I thought she had been sleeping for a few hours, maybe at most,” he said in the recording.
He also extended an offer of a business partnership involving a gym in the United States, something investigators characterized as an attempt to purchase the family’s silence.
Barasine closed her statement with a direct message to others who may have faced similar experiences.
“To my training colleagues, you are not alone. And you who were also a vic tim, don’t stay silent. You are not at fault. Report it,” she wrote.
Galvao’s legal team maintains he is innocent and cooperating fully with the investigation. The 8th DDM of São Paulo, a specialized unit focused on offenses against women, is handling the case.
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for readability and clarity.]
