While 15 of the original 27 venues have hosted some sort of event since the Games, others sit largely abandoned, their decay and disrepair a constant reminder of what was meant to be. Timed with an embarrassing political corruption scandal and the largest economic crisis in Brazil's history, the hosting of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Games has resulted in a perfect storm of unfulfilled promises. The 2016 Rio Olympics were supposed to be the second of a one-two punch announcing Brazil's arrival as a world power through dominance in sports. 'We missed the opportunity to transform sports in Brazil, to grow all of the sports to a professional level and to engage children in sports, to build the next champions. 'After reaching a good result, I felt a spark of hope. 'What I'm living now I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams,' says the 25-year-old Wu, who won the silver medal in the 10-meter air pistol event. If anything, the Olympics have made it worse. But the success has done little to improve Wu's way of life. Wu's home and the others on the block are scheduled for demolition, soon to be replaced by a pair of towers filled with luxurious condos, lavish homes that one might think would come with bringing home one of the 19 Olympic medals Brazilians won in Rio a year ago. The narrow corridor on the side yard where he hung his targets and chased his Olympic dream for 12 years will meet its final fate: a bulldozer. The small yard and garage where he trained to win Brazil's first Olympic shooting medal since 1920 will soon become a construction site. But in a few weeks, Wu will no longer call this place home. It stands in stark contrast to the tall, opulent buildings that line some of the city's richest streets. The modest 860-square-foot home sits on a narrow street in the swanky Itaim Bibi neighborhood of São Paulo, the sprawling economic capital of Brazil. A hole in the wall where the air conditioner once sat. A few feet away, boxes filled with pistols and ammunition climb the stairs. On the floor beside him sits a suitcase overstuffed with clothes. This story is also available in Spanish and Portuguese.įelipe Wu opens the door, apologizing for the mess.

Rio on watch