Fatima Moreira de Melo

Blonde?

When an individual is competitive by nature the move from field hockey to professional poker isn’t quite the stretch one might think. Fatima Moreira de Melo has played field hockey at the international level for the Dutch team with such skill that she and her teammates competed in the World Cup in 2006 and won the gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics. After a career that lasted more than a decade, she has now taken her competitive drive to another field of green – the felt of the poker table. Moreira de Melo has joined Team PokerStars, a gathering that includes professional athletes from Germany, Sweden, France and Finland.

Getting the Call

PokerStars, one of the most recognizable names in professional and online poker, contacted Moreira de Melo. When they asked if she was interested in playing poker at a more visible level, she readily agreed. She has told interviewers that she had already learned the game in private competition during home games. She also said she had adrenaline rushes in poker that were similar to those she felt in Olympic competition. Moreira de Melo intends to compete in poker at the highest levels, noting that she wouldn’t be satisfied with anything less. Her training has come from members of the Dutch PokerStars team, as she focuses on poker as one of the major activities in her life. She is also a good singer and has a Masters degree in law. The former world-class field hockey player is a native of Rotterdam. Since she started playing at the highest level in 1997 she has become one of the most recognizable athletes in her home country and across Europe. She added her 2008 gold medal to the bronze from Sydney (2000) and silver from Athens (2004). The beautiful Moreira de Melo was also Rotterdam Sportswoman of the Year (2006).

Solid Performer

Fatima Moreira de Melo, who will be 32 in July 2010, played in almost 200 international field hockey matches. In addition to Olympics and World Cup experience, she played professionally for European professional teams. She sang for the International Hockey Federation’s program in 2001. Her PokerStars/tournament name is FatimaDeMelo (at PokerStars.com).

Fatima Moreiro de Melo Images