Clyde Clock, RFI correspondent in Los Angeles Pamela Rosa has just left Los Angeles for Tokyo. During the last month he worked hard at American track, where he spends most of the year. It is in the country where four-wheeled maneuvers emerged on a piece of wood, that the world ranking leader Japan perfected his strategies for the Olympics. California is the main destination for Brazilian skateboarders, as Brazil lacks the infrastructure for the sport.
Clyde Clock, RFI correspondent in Los Angeles
Pamela Rosa recently left for Tokyo from Los Angeles. During the last month he worked hard at American track, where he spends most of the year. It is in the country where four-wheeled maneuvers emerged on a piece of wood, that the world ranking leader Japan perfected his strategies for the Olympics. California is the main destination for Brazilian skateboarders, as Brazil lacks the infrastructure for the sport.
“Brazil doesn’t have a proper track like it does here in the United States. I didn’t need it, all the athletes have to come here and then go to Tokyo. Why don’t we have our training center in Brazil and leave there With full energy, with everyone cheering and straight to Tokyo? I guess what it’s lacking, a little more structure and a little more help from Brazil,” says Pamela.
Even without structure, Brazil is one of the powerhouses and contexts of world skateboarding. It was the only country with the United States able to fill all available Olympic places: 12 athletes in total. In the women’s street modality, along with Pamela, the Brazilian team also has Resa Leal and Leticia Buffoni and they have plenty of chances, including a triple podium.
Last week, Pamela trained in Los Angeles on tracks that simulate natural road obstacles such as stairs, handrails, small ramps and alternate light and heavy training. But it was later reduced to avoid injuries and spoil the Olympic dream. He also adjusted the time zone, as Japan is 16 hours ahead of California. All strategies for trying to climb the podium were developed together with coach Leandro Lourenco Silva, a native of Rio de Janeiro who spent a good part of his life in the city of Mackay. The Brazilian known as Leandro Mackay has been living in the United States for two years. The partnership began in early 2021 when the athlete intensified training for Tokyo.
“Pamela is phenomenal, she’s disciplined, she’s actually a ready champion. I develop my training, I have my own methodology, and I develop it myself because skateboarding is a ‘kid’ in this Olympic era”, Leandro Says who graduated in physical education.
first skate show
This is the first time skateboarding is participating in an Olympics. Leandro (42) has been playing the sport for 33 years, started as a kid and witnessed the whole transformation from amateur to professional.
“I go through almost three generations of skateboarders. It’s so strange, in my time I never thought that skateboarding would be included in the Olympic Games. I think it would be very exciting. The Olympics would be an important tool, a Take the critical exposure to show the world how fascinating skateboarding is,” Koch says.
Thank you mother! Thanks Mario!
Pamela skateboarded for the first time at the age of eight. Today at the age of 21 and with a collection of world titles, he doesn’t forget that a friend of his sister came to his home in So Jose dos Campos with a skateboard in hand. It was a passion at first sight – for skateboarding! If Pamela is going to the Olympic Games today, we have to thank her friend — Mario Gomes — and Pamela’s mother, Ivania Rosa, who took a daring attitude there.
“I was hooked on skateboarding! But I was too young and he wouldn’t let me take a skateboard, yet I did, I went on the street at home and started running. After a week and a half a sports center opened in my house and there There was a skating rink. This same friend came home and said: ‘Auntie, take Pamela to the rink.’ However, skaters don’t like to borrow a skateboard while they ride. I stayed at the rink crying, crying and nobody wanted to borrow a skateboard. So my mother stopped paying the water and electricity bills and gave me a skateboard Bought,” recalls the athlete.
Nothing was easy in these years of the profession. Without money, the family had to make many choices during the girl’s career, says Pamela, who chose a sport that, apart from being marginalized at the time, was neither seen as a profession, nor a profession. as a female activity. Pamela is one of those women who is helping to break all these prejudices.
“I think the Brazilian skate team is going with the main athletes from Brazil and the world, because they have to be 20 in the world rankings to participate. What I like about us is that we have a lot. Strong willed, we don’t give up so easily. So I think both Street and Park will do their best and by god’s will, bring home a medal, be it first, second or third. 20 of the best in the world Together, even more so that we will compete with the Japanese who will be at home,” says Pamela.
Sportsmanship
Pamela is arriving in Tokyo this Sunday. Due to the pandemic, she had to travel alone without a coach or family members. She has already been vaccinated, but discovers that there is still a fear of contamination and disqualification, which she says is the competition of her life, hence little attention. But nothing moves the champion’s mind.
“I’m very calm. I’m someone who manages to sum everything up so I don’t panic, I’m not worried at all, I don’t let it get to me. We know it’s one of the best One of the competitions and my dream, but I don’t let it take the proportion of everything. So in order not to harm me, I kept it as if it was a competition that I would be there to give my best within 45 seconds and Five maneuvers”, he says.
Street competitions are scheduled to take place on July 25 and 26.
