Nunes initially found success in the 100-kilometre (62 mi) distance race, winning the world championship in 1991.
[2] In 1995 Nunes set the world record with a time of 6 hours, 18 minutes and 9 seconds in Winschoten, Netherlands.
In 2001 he won the 246-kilometre (153 mi) Spartathlon in Greece in a time of 23 hours, 18 minutes and 5 seconds.
In October 2010 Nunes attempted to break the world record for a 24-hour treadmill race.
[8] In 1998 Nunes encouraged his maid, Sirlene Pinho, to begin running competitively.