Who Is Gisele Bündchen's Boyfriend Joaquim Valente? All About the Fitness Instructor

"I feel stronger, more confident and empowered since I started practicing self-defense," the 44-year-old captioned her Instagram at the time. "I feel it’s an important skill for all, but especially for us women." 

Thanking Joaquim and his two brothers—who together founded the self-defense academy, Valente Brothers—for "being awesome teachers and for making training so much fun," Gisele added, "I am looking forward to keep improving. Let’s go!"

But while the academy founder may have been showing her some moves in the gym since early 2022, it wasn't until November of that year that the pair first sparked romance rumors, when they were spotted vacationing together in Costa Rica along with Ben and Vivian. They reportedly began officially dating in June 2023. 

Since then, Gisele has opted to keep their romance mostly out of the public eye, but she has provided some insight into their blended family life. In September, she shared an adorable photo of Joaquim paddleboarding with her son alongside the caption, "Best of Summer." 

To learn more about Joaquim as they prepare to welcome their new addition, read on...

Who is Gisele Bündchen's boyfriend Joaquim Valente?

Joaquim is a self-defense and jiu-jitsu instructor who founded the Miami-based self-defense academy, Valente Brothers, with his two siblings after moving to the United States from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The 35-year-old—who is also trained in boxing and judo—has been practicing jiu-jitsu since he was 2 years old and received his black belt and Professors' Diploma from Grandmaster Hélio Gracie in 2007, according to the Valente Brothers website. 

When did Gisele Bündchen start dating Joaquim Valente? 

Gisele—who also hails from Brazil—was first romantically linked to Joaquim in November 2022, when the pair were spotted on vacation together in Costa Rica one month after she finalized her divorce from ex-husband Tom Brady. However, the couple reportedly began officially dating in June 2023.

How did Gisele Bündchen and her boyfriend Joaquim Valente meet? 

Gisele first met Joaquim through her son, Benjamin Brady, who had enrolled in one of his jiu-jitsu classes. Shortly after, Gisele shared that the fitness instructor convinced her to join a session as well. 

"Initially, I wasn't even considering it for myself," she told Dust magazine in 2022. "But when I brought Ben to the first class and started talking to Joaquim, I realized that it was much more than self defense." 

And while the couple didn't start dating until months later, Gisele shared that she was grateful for Joaquim and his training program long before that. 

"I feel stronger, more confidence and empowered since I started practicing self-defense," she wrote in a February 2022 Instagram. "I feel it’s an important skill for all, but specially for us women."

Thanking Joaquim and his brothers for "being awesome teachers and for making training so much fun," Gisele added, "I am looking forward to keep improving."

Who did Gisele Bündchen date before Joaquim Valente? 

Prior to dating Joaquim, Gisele was married to Tom Brady, who she met through mutual friends in 2006 before tying the knot three years later. The couple—who share son Benjamin, 14, and daughter Vivian Brady, 11, as well as stepson Jack Brady, 16—finalized their divorce in October 2022 following 13 years of marriage. 

What has Gisele Bündchen said about dating Joaquim Valente? 

While Gisele has kept her romance with Joaquim mostly out of the public eye, she previously shared how glad she is to have him—and his brothers Pedro and Gui—in her life. 

“I’m so grateful to know all of them,” she told Vanity Fair in 2023, “because not only have they helped me and helped my kids, but they have become great friends, and Joaquim especially.”

And that's not the only insight she provided into their relationship. She also shared why Joaquim is such a great person to have around her kids. 

“He’s our teacher and, most importantly, he’s a person that I admire and that I trust," Gisele continued. "It’s so good to have that kind of energy, to have my kids around that type of energy."

Keep reading for a glimpse of Gisele's life with her kids....