Who is Joaquim Valente? Meet Gisele Bündchen’s new man after Tom Brady
More than a year after Gisele Bündchen was seen stepping out with Joaquim Valente and her two children, Benjamin and Vivian, for dinner in Costa Rica, the pair are as “in love” as ever.
An insider revealed to Page Six that the supermodel and jiu-jitsu instructor are “deeply in love” and have even become more comfortable with their romance, as they were seen passionately locking lips on Valentine’s Day during a romantic outing in Miami.
The pair was first romantically linked in November 2022 following Bundchen’s divorce from Tom Brady, which was finalized the month prior after 13 years of marriage.
They have since been spotted horseback riding in Costa Rica, enjoying time at the beach and hitting the gym together.
So who is the athlete who has the key to the former Victoria’s Secret Angel’s heart? Here is everything you need to know about Valente.
He is a jiu-jitsu instructor
Joaquim and his brothers, Pedro Valente and Gui Valente, began learning jiu-jitsu “from their father before they could walk” and now teach at the Valente Brothers facility.
“At the tender age of 2, Pedro, Gui and Joaquim were already taking private lessons from Grandmaster Hélio Gracie,” reads the company’s website. “Growing up, the Valente brothers trained daily at the Gracie Academy in Rio de Janeiro.”
Pedro began teaching classes in Miami, Fla., in 1993, launching the family’s full-time academy five years later.
Joaquim was “still living in Brazil” at the time, “work[ing] with Grandmaster Hélio directly and provid[ing] Pedro and Gui with valuable information” until he followed them to the United States in 2007.
He studied at Barry University
According to Joaquim’s LinkedIn page, he began attending Barry University in 2007, graduating four years later with a bachelor’s degree in criminology.
While Joaquim’s current age is unclear, he celebrates his birthday on Nov. 6 and attended K-12 schooling in Rio de Janeiro from 1990 to 2007.
He lives in Florida
Joaquim moved to Florida from Brazil to study at Barry University, and he has lived at the state ever since.
The athlete teaches at the Valente Brothers’ headquarters in Miami Beach alongside his family members. (The company’s affiliate locations in Pembroke Pines and Coral Gables are independently owned and operated.)
He has been linked to Bündchen before
In 2021, Joaquim and his brothers posed alongside Bündchen for a Dust magazine spread.
The model gave a glimpse into one of their training sessions via Instagram in February of the following year.
“I believe the more tools we have in our toolbox the better,” Bündchen captioned footage. “I feel stronger, more confidence and empowered since I started practicing self-defense. I feel it’s an important skill for all, but specially for us women.
“Thank you @ValenteBrothers for being awesome teachers and making training so much fun,” she went on to write. “I am looking forward to keep improving. Let’s go!”
Brady reacted via Twitter at the time, joking, “My days of leaving dishes in the sink are numbered.”
He’s family-oriented
Joaquim’s Instagram may be private, but his Twitter account reveals many messages lovingly dedicated to his family members.
“Today the greatest man was born,” Joaquim wrote of his dad in November 2018. “My best friend, mentor and father. Thank you for always being by my side. So many great memories.”
In February of the following year, he penned a touching tribute to his eldest brother, Pedro.
“Your dedication, commitment, and self-discipline is admirable,” Joaquim gushed. “Thank you for being such a great example to me since the day I was born.”
