The 1995 season proved to be a career high. He was third at the 1995 Boston Marathon, recording a time of 2:11:02 hours, then took the bronze medal at the 1995 World Championships – his international debut at that distance. He ended his successful year with wins at the São Paulo Marathon and the high level Fukuoka Marathon, where his clocking 2:09:30 was a new personal best. Despite being eleventh at the 1996 Boston Marathon, he represented his native country in the men's marathon at the 1996 Summer Olympics, finishing in tenth place. He attempted a title defence in Fukuoka, but came third overall. He began the 1997 season with sixth place at the Rotterdam Marathon in a lifetime best time of 2:08:55 hours. He placed fifth at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics, which led the Brazilian men to the team bronze medal in the 1997 World Marathon Cup.