Rayssa Leal is the World Street Skateboarding League champion and receives congratulations from Lula, complete with a fairy emoji.
The multi-champion, only 14 years old, won the competition in Rio de Janeiro with a spectacular maneuver in the final event.
247 Rayssa Leal is the grand champion of the World Street Skateboarding League. In a perfect season, the 14-year-old from Maranhão won the grand final in Rio de Janeiro with her last trick. Rayssa becomes the World League champion in this discipline after winning all stages so far.
The Brazilian skateboarder gave those watching the competition a scare, according to Globo Esporte. At the end of her second run, Rayssa experienced respiratory distress that caused a sharp pain and forced her to stop. Even so, the athlete from Maranhão managed to continue in the competition and win.
Rayssa turned the tables once again on her last maneuver. Under pressure and with the support of the crowd in Rio de Janeiro, the skater managed to land a great trick on the largest handrail of the park, earning her a 7,4. Before her final attempt, the skater from Maranhão was in third place in the tournament.
After the victory, she received congratulations from President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
"Congratulations, Rayssa Leal. Another victory you bring to Brazil!", Lula posted on his Twitter. One detail: the phrase was accompanied by a fairy emoji, as the young athlete has been known since she emerged in the sport at the age of 7. She performed in a fairy costume.
Lula shared the post from Team Brazil, of which Rayssa is a part:
"IT'S GOLD! Rayssa Leal is the 2022 Super Crown champion in Rio de Janeiro: 21.1! And it was with so much emotion, on the last maneuver! She put on another amazing show!"