Brazil wins two unprecedented gold medals at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship

Brazilian rhythmic gymnastics made history this Sunday (16) and won two unprecedented gold medals at the World Championships in the sport, held in Frankfurt, Germany.

The first gold came in the exhibition with five balls, and the second, in the so-called mixed series, in which the athletes perform with three bows and two maces ─ an instrument similar to a bowling pin.

The group is made up of Nicole Pírcio from São Paulo, Sofia Madeira from Espírito Santo, Julia Kurunczi and Mariana Gonçalves from Paraná, Maria Paula Caminha from Amazonas and Maria Eduarda Arakaki from Alagoas, captain of the sextet. Of the six gymnasts on the team, five go to the stage and one remains as a reserve.

In the five balls, the Lionesses (the Brazilian team's nickname) performed a series without errors and achieved a score of 29.450. Assessments take into account degree of difficulty, execution and artistic composition.

The performance to the sound of Feeling Good, by Michael Buble, surpassed the 29,250 achieved at the Pan-American Championships, in June, in Rio de Janeiro, which was the highest score in the world of the year.

Brazil simply left behind the last two Olympic champions: China, silver medalist, with a score of 28,900; and Bulgaria, bronze, with 28,400. It is the first time that a country from the Americas has reached the top of the podium in this type of event at the World Cup.

"We learned to believe that it was possible. First, we dreamed of being among the best. Then, we started to compete on equal terms with them. And today we are in the highest place. It didn't happen overnight. It took years of work, mistakes, successes, tears, resignations and a lot of persistence", said Camila Ferezin, the team's coach, to the Brazilian Gymnastics Confederation (CBG).

Hours after the gold in the five balls, the Brazilians returned to the stage for the final of the mixed series, a test in which they were silver medalists at last year's World Cup in Rio. Riding on the momentum of Lady Gaga's Abracadabra, the Lionesses achieved another perfect performance, with a score of 29.450.

Spain, overall champion on Saturday (15), had a score of 29,050 and came in second, followed by Bulgaria (28,750).

"We were the 26th team in the world. There was a huge dream, but we also knew the length of the path we would need to travel. Today, looking at these girls and being able to say that we are world champions is something almost surreal. It is the realization of a dream that was built every day, for many years", added Camila.