RIO DE JANEIRO -- He was scalded at 3, kidnapped two years later, and lost a kidney when he fell from a tree at 10. To say Isaquias Queiroz had a rough start in life would be an understatement.The 22-year-old became Brazils first medalist in flatwater canoeing Tuesday, winning a silver in the mens 1,000 meter singles. Hes also competing in the 200-meter sprint and the 1,000-meter doubles.I was really satisfied to win this medal after all the obstacles I have faced, Queiroz said.There is no visible trace of the hardship he endured while growing up; the scar from his kidney operation is hidden by his green uniform. Paddling on the lagoon in Rio, he is a confident young man with a gemstone gleaming in his left ear and tattoos covering his right shoulder.But Queiroz entered his first Olympics with the weight of a nation on his broad shoulders. Brazil counts on him to follow up on his three world titles with at least one Olympic gold medal.The story of this unlikely Olympian begins in Ubaitaba, a small town in Brazils impoverished northeast, where Queiroz grew up with his mother and nine siblings, four of them adopted. His father died when he was 5.The towns name stems from the indigenous word for canoe, historically the main mode of transportation on the Rio de Contas. But Queiroz was more interested in soccer until he tried competitive canoeing when he was 11 as part of a government-funded social project, said Figueroa Conceicao, his childhood coach.From his first contact with the water, I realized that he was good, that he had something special, Conceicao said.He couldnt figure out why everyone called the boy Sem Rim, which means missing kidney in Portuguese.So he showed me the scar and told me the story of when he went to see a snake which was up in a tree, Conceicao said. There was a rock, and he fell on it and he had to go to the hospital. They took out his kidney.It wasnt the only time the boy was in grave danger. As a toddler, he required emergency care after being scalded when a pot of hot water fell over him. When he was about 5, he was kidnapped but returned to his mother unharmed.Conceicao said Queiroz was a restless boy who didnt always do as he was told. Just before a tryout for a national competition, Queiroz ignored his coachs ban on swimming in the polluted river where they were training. Conceicao decided to punish the boy by making him compete in a higher age bracket.He said, `No problem. And the next Saturday, at the tryouts, he came in second, Conceicao said.From there Queirozs career took off. By 2011, he was a junior world champion; two years later, he won the first of three world titles.Coached by Spaniard Jesus Morlan, hes now competing on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio before a roaring crowd, including his mother and several friends.Queiroz resists talking about his modest background. In several interviews with Brazilian media before the Olympics, he insisted his childhood was a happy one.I have only one kidney, but I usually dont talk about it, Queiroz told reporters Tuesday. I also suffered a burn when I was a kid on almost all of my right side.However, he said he never let his difficulties get in the way of his Olympic dreams.The hardship he has faced, Queiroz told The Associated Press, lies in the countless hours of grueling training it takes to become a top-level Olympic canoeist.I think the journey of an athlete comes with many difficulties, he said. Its not smooth, not easy work. You have to kill yourself daily to get to the competition and win. 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CLEVELAND -- Robert Griffin III gave the Cleveland Browns some hope with a strong home debut.Griffin threw two touchdown passes in the first half in the Browns 24-13 exhibition loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.Griffin found wide receiver Terrelle Pryor streaking down the right sideline on Clevelands second drive of the game for a 50-yard scoring strike. Griffin connected with tight end Gary Barnridge for a 22-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.Those were two great plays, Griffin said. TP running by a guy and making a play and Gary making an amazing catch. We were able to get things clicking a little bit working the long ballGriffin signed with the Browns (0-2) after being released by Washington. He was 6 of 8 for 96 yards in four series, and ran for 36 yards on three carries -- including a 22-yarder.Devonta Freeman scored on a 19-yard run to cap Atlantas first drive. Matt Ryan played three series and completed 6 of 11 passes for 78 yards.Atlanta (2-0) trailed 13-10 at halftime, but went ahead on Brandon Wilds 32-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The Falcons gained 498 yards, including 224 on the ground.The real story was the line of scrimmage, Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said. For us to have the ability to run the ball like we did, thats a real plus.ROOKIE WATCHFalcons: LBs Deion Jones and DeVondre Campbell were in the starting lineup. Jones, a second-round draft pick, played in the middle while Campbell, taken in the fourth round, played on the weak side.POSITION BATTLESFalcons: QB Matt Simms, who is competing with Sean Renfree for the No. 3 spot, directed a 15-play, 98-yard drive for a fourth-quarter touchdown.Browns: K Patrick Murray, who is competing with Travis Coon, made an extra point after Clevelands first touchdown.INJURY UPDATEFalcons: PK Nick Rose handled all of the teams kicking duties because of injuries. PK Matt Bryant didnt play beacuse of tightness, according to the team. P Matt Bosher left the game witth a chest injury after taking a big hit from LB Tank Carder covering a kick.dddddddddddd DE/LB Vic Beasley (shoulder), RB Terron Ward (ankle) and S Kemal Ishmael (shoulder) were also out.Browns: WR Corey Coleman, the teams No. 1 draft pick, has yet to play in the preseason because of a left hamstring injury. RT Joe Thomas (back), CB Joe Haden (ankle) and WR Andrew Hawkins (hamstring) were also out. S Rahim Moore was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion.NOT READY YETWR Josh Gordon (quad) returned to practice Tuesday but didnt play. He is suspended for the first four games of the regular season after missing the entire 2015 season for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy.QUOTABLEFalcons: I thought we were sharper than we were in the first week. We made some plays in the passing game and we ran the ball well. -- Ryan on the offense.Browns: As a receiver, if the ball is anywhere in your area you try and make the catch. It was a good ball, great protection. -- Pryor on his touchdown catch.OOPSC Cam Erving fired a shotgun snap over Griffins head in the second quarter, sending the quarterback racing for the ball. Griffin recovered for what would have been a 24-yard loss, but had his facemask grabbed by linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.I dont want to have to coach that, but its something we have to fix, Browns coach Hue Jackson said. That was disappointing to have the ball go over the quarterbacks head.FALCONS DEBUTVeteran DE Dwight Freeney, signed last week, played his first game with Atlanta after signing last week.Its hard to get the rust off, he said. I got about six to eight plays. 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