For those who started following skateboard competitions from the fever generated by the Tokyo Olympics, perhaps it was not yet clear why Pamela Rosa, 22, arrived in Japan as the leader of the ranking and Brazil’s biggest favorite for a medal in the sport.
The failure of São José dos Campos from São Paulo to qualify for the final of the Olympic competition was initially a shock, but it was explained afterwards, when the athlete published a photo of her completely swollen left ankle on her social networks.
Four days before boarding, she had torn a ligament. He had to compete in the sacrifice, he was by the way and far from the podium of the street modality, composed by teenagers Momiji Nishiya, Rayssa Leal and Funa Nakayama.
Four months later, Pamela showed that she remains in a position to dominate the international scene by winning the Super Crown, the final stage of the Street League Skateboarding that has the weight of a World Championship.
Last Sunday (14), in Jacksonville (Florida), she defeated Rayssa, who had won the previous two stages of the SLS, and Olympic champion Nishiya to take her second title in the competition — the first was conquered in 2019, in São Paulo. Paulo, also in a one-two with his compatriot.
The victory was guaranteed in the last two maneuvers, when Pamela got great grades (7.7 and 8.1) that made her pass Rayssa and jump to the first position. The concentration to get the moves right quickly gave way to the emotion of the conquest of washing the soul.
“I was coming back from an injury and I trained a lot to get physically well. The family memory comes right away. That movie really plays in the mind of all the financial difficulties we went through. My parents’ income was R$1,200, and even so they they always believed in my dream, which was to be a professional athlete and be able to make a living from skateboarding,” she tells sheet.
Pamela acknowledges that it was not easy to deal with the frustration experienced at the Tokyo Games. On the occasion, she also regretted not being able to count on the presence of her coach and manager, Hamilton Freitas, a topic that generated friction between the athlete and the Brazilian Skate Confederation. Due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the entity chose to take to Japan only the coaches hired for the selections.
After the Olympics, in addition to going through the ankle recovery process, Pamela says she sought strength to recover in therapy. He admits that it wasn’t easy.
“Hamilton always told me to believe in me. Even in the most difficult times. The mental preparation I did with Carla Di Pierro [sua psicóloga] it was something that helped me a lot this season. All family members and people close to me who always believed in my work were very supportive in this final stretch,” he says.
The 2021 season of SLS, which started at the end of August, showed that the technical level of the women’s competition has grown after the sport’s Olympic debut. An additional challenge for Pamela, who reported not being 100% physically at the start. “In Utah I still felt a lot of pain. In Arizona it was much less, but it was 75% and out of rhythm. I used the stages to gain confidence and return to my best physical shape in Florida.”
Back at the top of the street, the Brazilian begins to draw up new plans. The apex, if all goes well, will be three years from now, when she hopes to be ready and unimpeded to shine at the Paris-2024 Games. “This dream of being an Olympic medalist is more alive than ever!”, he warns.
For that, it will be necessary to continue at a high level in an increasingly competitive scenario. Momiji, 14, and Rayssa, 13, demonstrate that they have a long evolution curve ahead.
The girls are training and demanding more, with that the level only increases. This evolution will not stop. Rayssa and Momiji are very technical. Younger than me, but with rare talent. That alone is enough to inspire me and keep me always at the highest level
“The girls are training and demanding more, with that the level only increases. This evolution will not stop. Rayssa and Momiji are very technical. Younger than me, but with rare talent. That alone is enough for inspire me and always keep me at the highest level,” he says.
Pâmela returned to Brazil this week and paraded in an open car through the streets of São José dos Campos (SP), but will have two more competitions in 2021.
His next appointment will be at the Junior Pan American Games on November 26 in Colombia. It is a new competition and is mainly aimed at basic athletes (up to 22 years old, with variations depending on the sport), but in skateboarding it will gain another weight with the participation of Brazilians.
In addition to the world street champion, another skateboarder who stood out in Jacksonville, Lucas Rabelo, runner-up of the Super Crown, will represent the country at the event.
“I’m very proud to serve my country. I love Brazil! I was invited months ago and accepted right away. If I have the opportunity to represent Brazil, whether in any competition, I want to be always present,” she says.
In early December, she still has the STU Open, in Rio de Janeiro, before her finally getting some rest from her intense 2021.
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