Brazil won this Saturday (23) the silver medal in the general complex in the World Championship of Rhythmic Gymnastics, played for the first time in South America, Rio de Janeiro. The country’s podium in the competition, the most important of the sport after the Olympic Games, was unprecedented.
Japan won the gold, with a score of 55,550, and Spain took the bronze medal, with a total grade of 54,450.
The first presentation of the Brazilian team, in the mixed series – with the use of three balls and two arches – was packed by “Evidence”, from Chitãozinho and Xororó, and raised the fans of the Rio Arena 1, in Rio Olympic Park. The group formed by athletes Maria Eduarda Arakaki, Maria Paula Caminha, Mariana Gonçalves, Sofia Pereira and Nicole Pircio showed an exemplary performance and reached the note. 27,850.
Shortly thereafter, the team led by technique Camila Ferezin returned to the presentation of the simple series – with the use of tapes – and recorded the lower 27,400 grade due to small execution errors. The presentation was accompanied by the songs “What is what it is?”, “Watercolor of Brazil”, “Come to Brazil” and “Samba do Brasil”.
With a total grade of 55,250, the country took the lead of its group, ahead of China, current Olympic champion.
Then the second group of 18 teams performed in the simple and mixed series. Brazil remained in first place until the second rotation of Japan, a few minutes before the presentations. The Asian country secured the 28,350 grade in the mixed series and pushed the Brazilian team to second place.
With the results this Saturday – Brazil ended among the first eight teams in each set – the country will also play this Sunday (24) the finals of the simple and mixed series.
Shortly after the performances of the Brazilian team, Ferezin celebrated the performance of the group: “We are very happy. It was exactly as we dreamed: full house, the audience cheering, singing the songs, vibrating and they managed to control the emotion.”
Gymnast Nicole Pircio recalled the team’s preparation, which included simulating the pressure of the fans during the performances: “We worked from the smallest detail to those most difficult releases. We prepared for the fans. In training, we put the fans of Flamengo, which made a noise, and tried to project this moment here in the World Cup.” “It was amazing, the Brazilian spent all the energy, but our focus was on total.”
