“We have already been stopped in a mall, has been stopped on the street. People pass and say, ‘Wow, you were beautiful!’. It’s very exciting,” said Mariana Gonçalves, 20, a member of the Brazilian team that won two medals at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup. “It’s been a huge joy. The heart is warm!”
She and her companions also celebrate the results obtained in the competition, held in Rio de Janeiro, with a silver in the general test and another in the mystic series, with three balls and two arches. In a modality that usually has little visibility, they acted with the carioca Arena 1 crowded and became recognized.
They had a meeting with the President of the Republic, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT), and participation in popular events, such as a rehearsal of the United Samba School in Niterói, where they were cheered. Last week, several units of Sesc (Social Service of Commerce) in São Paulo, where they interacted with the public and commanded activities with children traveled.
The movement was part of the MOVE Week program, which encourages sports. The athletes of rhythmic gymnastics had already participated in previous editions, but without the furor they caused after the previously unpublished medals in the World Cup. Completed on Sunday (28), the series of performances began on Thursday (25), in Bauru, with the gym crowded.
“There were people out! I think the cry of victory was very stuck, you know? It was all the world wanting a lot to vibrate in this energy. And now that it is real, what happened, that we realized, this latent thing is coming. Where we pass, is: ‘I was cheering, thank you!'”, 39, national team choreographer.
“It’s really cool to see the children with those bright eyes, trying to play in our tight. “Of course, as athletes, we have objectives of achievements and medals, but we also want to nourish the new generations,” added Nicole Pircio, 23, another team member.
Mariana and Nicole, alongside Duda Arakaki, Sofia Madeira and Maria Paula Caminha, were the athletes who performed on their way to the medals, under the command of Camila Ferezin and Bruna Martins. To climb the podium, they expected what is expected at the highest level of rhythmic gymnastics, a modality that combines artistic gymnastics movements and ballet elements.
According to the description of the FIG (International Federation of Gymnastics), “rhythmic gymnastics is the junction of sport with art”. “Performing performances with music, individually or in groups, rhythmic gymnasts impress the audience with their ability to perform extremely difficult maneuvers with manual appliances: bow, ball, apples, tape and rope,” says the text.
One of the differences for artistic gymnastics, practiced by stars such as Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade, is that it values more strength and power. In rhythmic gymnastics, there is great emphasis on flexibility, always linked to the musical rhythm. In the case of Brazilian achievements, the trail was “evidence”, classic of the popular songbook composed by José Augusto and Paulo Sérgio Valle.
The song will now be replaced for a new selection cycle. Trainers Camila and Bruna have a group of WhatsApp with Leonardo Palitot, an international referee of the sport that contributes to the coaching staff. The group, which has been called “Paris Music” and “World Music”, is now titled “Music 2026”.
“Leo sent a message: ‘Friend, I’m even goose bumps’, and sent the picture of his arm,” Bruna said, reporting one of the conversations around the next song. It is not definitive that it will be the same until the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but the works already have the mega event as an objective.
According to the choreographer, “the girls are supercious” and give their guesses. As long as they do not find out what music will pack them from next year, they rest their body, comply with commercial commitments and enjoy the moment, with applause to which they are still getting used to it.
“We see that our gymnastics is being recognized, having the place we should always have. It’s our place now,” said Mariana. “Since we stayed in 2022 as the fifth best set in the world, everything was fuel for us to want more. So, it’s the realization of our work. Now, it’s enjoying it all,” concluded Nicole.
