Gisele Bundchen sparked romance rumors over the weekend when she stepped out with a new man.
In Costa Rica on Saturday, Bundchen was photographed eating dinner with Joaquim Valente and the children she shares with ex-husband Tom Brady, Benjamin, 12, and Vivian, 9. The sighting happened just a few weeks after the Brazilian supermodel, and the NFL star finalized their divorce on Oct. 28.
According to Page Six, here’s what fans should know about Bundchen’s rumored new man.
According to their website, Joaquim and his brothers Pedro Valente and Gui Valente learned jiu-jitsu “from their father before they could walk.” Grandmaster Helio Gracie taught all three of them the art when they were as young as two.
The Valente brothers trained daily at the Gracie Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They now teach jiu-jitsu at the Valente Brothers location.
Pedro began teaching classes in Miami, Florida, in 1993, and five years later, their family’s full-time academy was established. Joaquim was “still living in Brazil” at the time, “working directly with Grandmaster Hélio and providing valuable information to Pedro and Gui.” In 2007, he followed his brothers to the United States.
Joaquim began attending Barry University in 2007 and graduated four years later with a bachelor’s degree in criminology, according to his LinkedIn profile. From 1990 to 2007, he attended K-12 school in Rio de Janeiro.
His age is unknown, but according to Page Six, he is in his early 30s.
In 2021, Joaquim and his brothers posed with Bundchen for a Dust magazine spread. In the interview, she explained why she was drawn to jiu-jitsu, saying it was more than just self-defense and that its philosophy piqued her interest.
She said:
“It felt very much in line with what I believe in and look for in my life and how I have a path to develop and become the best version of myself. It sounded like something I definitely wanted to learn about and then I was hooked.”
Joaquim’s Instagram account is private, but his Twitter account displays some heartfelt messages for his family, including some for his father on his birthday.
He tweeted in November 2018:
“Today the greatest man was born. My best friend, mentor and father. Thank you for always being by my side. So many great memories. Beijo do Número 4.”
Joaquim had written a year before to commemorate his father’s birthday:
“Today, November 21st, the greatest man of all times was born, dad, or Dr. Pedro for most. Muitas.”
Joaquim also tweeted about his brothers.
He tweeted in 2017:
“When brothers agree, no fortress is so strong as their common life.”
According to an unnamed source close to the supermodel, the dating rumors linking her to Valente were false.
The insider told Fox News Digital:
“None of it’s true. ‘This is the kids’ and Gisele’s longtime martial arts teacher. There’s no truth to any dating rumors.”
Bundchen has not publicly addressed the romance rumors.