Rayssa Leal, the
Fadinha
(fairy, in Portuguese) of
skateboarding
, has made history in world sport. At 13 years, it has become the youngest Olympic medalist Brazil, confirming their favoritism in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. He sportsman won at dawn on Monday silver at the end of
skateboarding
, form
street
feminine, where simulates slopes and curbs of the streets in a circuit. His victory has generated unanimous praise among Brazilian fans in a country affected by deep political polarization.
The
skateboarding
final
has consolidated the adolescent wave in this discipline, debuting in these Olympic Games: the podium was completed by the Japanese Momiji Nishiya, also 13 years old, who took the gold, and Funa Nakayama, 16 years old, bronze medalist .
The Brazilian joy was not greater because the other promise of medals from the country in the category, Pamela Rosa, number one in the world, and Letícia Bufoni, fourth in the ranking, were eliminated in the first round of the competition and were left out of the competition. Grand finale.
It was the fairy-girl with a wide smile and a slim body who was in charge of doing magic and giving Brazil a podium, the second metal in that sport;
Kelvin Hoefler took silver in
men's
street skateboarding
on Saturday
.
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Two 13-year-old teenagers, gold and silver in the women's skateboarding event
“I am very happy, because I have been able to represent all the girls, Pamela and Letícia, who did not qualify, all the girls from
skateboarding
and from Brazil.
Being able to fulfill my dream of being here and winning a medal is very rewarding.
My dream and the dream of my parents ”, the young woman born in Imperatriz, in the State of Maranhão, said with emotion, where she suffered her first falls and performed her first
kickflips
with her characteristic fairy costume.
Before her debut, she wanted to pay tribute to her predecessors: “There is no future without a past.
If I am here today it is because
Brazilian
skateboarding
has a history.
If I am here today, next to 11 other athletes, it is for all the
skaters
of the old school that made our sport come this far ”.
Despite his young age, Rayssa Leal seemed not to feel the pressure of playing the Games.
From the start of the first heat at the Ariake Urban Sports Park, always with a smile on his lips, he showed confidence in his maneuvers and took third place in the general classification for the final.
Alternating moments of total concentration with dances and jokes between turns, the young woman surpassed veterans such as Alexis Sablone, from the United States and 34 years old, and the Japanese Aori Nishimura, who at 19 years is the current champion of the category in the X Games, the most famous extreme sports contest in the world.
The only moment of sadness for the young woman came with the elimination of her friend Letícia Bufoni, of whom Rayssa is a declared fan.
Rayssa Leal lifts her silver medal on July 26 in Tokyo.Ben Curtis / AP
Since the start of the Tokyo Olympic Games, the young woman from Maranhão has achieved unanimous support among Brazilian fans, which represents a novelty among the already established disciplines in which Brazil opts for medals, such as soccer, volleyball and soccer. judo.
Being only 13 years old, she was accompanied by her mother, Lilian, who was allowed to travel with her despite the sanitary restrictions of the pandemic.
Rayssa Leal, a phenomenon of this sport and described by many as a genius in his category, did not have a normal childhood: last year, he told EL PAÍS that he watched sk
ate c
Like a “responsible game”.
A responsibility that she faces with freshness and good humor, perceptible in competitions, which she usually goes to with her parents, Haroldo and Lilian, who manage her career.
Among those who have flattered her are famous such as actress Bruna Marquezine, rapper Emicida, even politicians of different stripes such as former candidate for the presidency Marina Silva, a leftist, or supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro such as federal deputy Hélio Lopes. Everyone celebrates the Rayssa phenomenon and its conquest on the Internet. In the world of sports, the achievement was also widely celebrated.
Rayssa Leal's victory was praised by Pelé, who congratulated her by comparing her career to a fairy tale. Bob Burnquist, one of the main names in this sport in Brazil and former president of the Brazilian Skate Confederation, also celebrated it on social networks: “The little giant Rayssa has been silver in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games! Congratulations, Rayssa! I'm proud of you!". Letícia Bufoni, already eliminated, encouraged her pupil from the stands and vibrated with the feat: “A pride that does not fit in the chest! Thanks for the inspiration. You are giant! ”. The
skater
Australian Shane O'Neill was also thrilled with Rayssa's result.
"Amazing!
Congratulations on second place in the Olympics!
I am eager to see your evolution and your plans for the future!
Thanks for the inspiration ”, he published, writing the last sentence in Portuguese.
The women's soccer team released a video showing the entire team watching the Fadinha final and celebrating their medal.
Daniel Alves and Paulinho, from the men's team, also applauded the young woman's achievement, and even the Manchester City profile congratulated Rayssa.
I don't know anything about this but it's awesome: a fairytale heelflip in Brazil by #RayssaLeal (via @oliverbarton) pic.twitter.com/uZgshHYMMT
- Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) September 8, 2015
Before being a medalist, the young woman already received the support of veteran athletes. Days before contesting the final, she was praised by a world
skate
legend
, the American Tony Hawk, who walked by her side on the track during training and wanted to record and publish part of the movements and maneuvers of the Brazilian on his social networks. in the olympic grounds. "Thank you for the images from the other day," the giant with the skateboard thanked him afterwards, humbly.
In addition to being passionate about
women's
skateboarding
, Hawk helped spread the word about Rayssa's work a few years ago by sharing a video of her, when she was seven, doing stunts and dressed in a blue fairy costume in her hometown.
In the classic images that have
gone
viral, he fails his first two attempts at
heelflip
on a small ladder and ends up on the ground.
On the third, it comes out.
Six years later, the fairy shows its evolution and flies higher: "If a 13-year-old girl is going to represent Brazil today, it is thanks to the women
skaters
who inspire me, who teach me that a girl can do everything", she said.
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