Brazil's Jose Batista holds the Olympic torch aloft as he rides his horse, during the torch relay in Brasilia, Brazil, May 3, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Claudino began her journey through the Ministries Esplanade, a large avenue where the public authorities buildings are located, and passed the flame to the second torch bearer, Arturo Avila Cordeiro de Melo, who was the first Latin American to win the fields medal, considered the Nobel Prize of mathematics.

He was chosen to highlight the importance of education for Brazil's development.

Some of Brazil's best athletes were among the first 10 people to carry the Olympic torch, including Angelo Assumpcao (artistic gymnastics) and Adriana Araujo, who won Brazil's first Olympic medal in women's boxing with a bronze medal in the 60k category at London 2012, were also among the privileged few that were chosen to carry the torch at the start of its journey in the South American country.