One of the muses of Brazilian sport, Mariana entered the Flamengo's swimming school at the age of four years. Three years later, she was part of the infant team. His first state title came in 1998, the same year that she debuted in high-level tournaments. Throughout her career defended red-black colours of Flamengo, the club of her heart, yet she has been besieged by other swim teams, with far better training structures.[2]
In 2001, Mariana reached the elite of Brazilian swimming, winning the South American and Brazilian absolute juvenile in the 200-metre freestyle. The following year, 2002, he won two more titles in South America, now in absolute category, and qualified for the 2003 Pan American Games.[3]
She was at the 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Yokohama, where she broke the South American record of 200-metre freestyle with a time of 2:01.45.[4] She was also in the 200-metre freestyle final, finishing in 8th place.[5] In the 4×200-metre freestyle, she did the final, finishing in 5th place and beating the South American record with a time of 8:15.80.[6] She also finished 6th in the 4×100-metre freestyle.[7]
At the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Brochado won silver in the 4×200-metre freestyle, breaking the South American record, with a time of 8:10.54, along with Monique Ferreira, Ana Muniz and Paula Baracho.[8] She also won bronze in the 200-metre freestyle.[9] Although these medals won in 2003 Pan have called more attention around her name that year, before heading to Santo Domingo, Mariana represented Brazil in the 2003 World Aquatics Championships, in Barcelona, one of three World Championships that she played, when she reached the semifinal of the 200-metre freestyle, beating the South American record by scoring 2:01.17,[10][11] her best mark in long course throughout her career, and obtained the 15th place overall at the proof.[12] In addition, she helped the 4×200-metre freestyle to guarantee a place in Athens, with the 12th position,[13] a moment of great emotion in her career. She also got the 19th place in the 400-metre freestyle.[14]
Returning from Santo Domingo, Brochado became nationally recognized as a muse of Brazilian sport and swimming. While declaring that she would rather be recognized for her achievements in swimming pools than just for its beauty, the title of "muse", added to her achievements, gave her an easier to attract sponsorship, and she was one of the swimmers with the largest number of sponsors of her era.[15]
At Brazil Trophy, in 2004, cemented her status as the best Brazilian in the race, and secured his place in the national team that would go to the Olympic Games in Athens 2004.[16]
Ran a good campaign in Athens 2004. Despite being eliminated in the playoffs of the 200-metre freestyle, ranking 23rd place, she helped the Brazilian 4×200-metre freestyle to go to first Olympic final, finishing in 7th place.[17] She also established the new South American record (8:05.29), along with Joanna Maranhão, Monique Ferreira and Paula Baracho.[18]
Participating in the 2006 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Shanghai, she reached the 400-metre freestyle final, finishing in 8th place.[22] At the final, broke the South American record with a time of 4:07.21.[23] She also got the 9th place in the 4×200-metre freestyle.[24]
In 2007, she saw her dream to represent Brazil in the Pan American Games, held in Rio de Janeiro, her hometown, being frustrated by not getting ratings.[25]
