From Brazil to the world, Rayssa Leal conquers titles like grown-ups

In pursuit of gender equity in sports, women are increasingly fighting for prominence and respect. One of these examples is the skater Rayssa Leal, considered an icon of the sport in Brazil. The Imperatriz native of Maranhão went viral on the internet when she skated dressed as a fairy at the age of 6, and soon after, at 13, conquered the hearts of Brazilians by becoming a silver medalist in the skate street modality at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. little about the champion’s trajectory!

Who is Rayssa Leal?

Born in Imperatriz, Maranhão, Jhulia Rayssa Mendes Leal got her first skateboard at the age of six. Through a video that went viral on the internet made by her mother, in which she was walking through the streets of her hometown while performing tricks dressed in a fairy costume, the girl gained media attention.

The video made its way to skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and was reposted by him with the caption: “I don’t know anything about it, but it’s amazing: a fairytale jump in Brazil by Rayssa Leal.” The repercussion took her to the Esporte Espetacular program, where she had the chance to meet her great inspiration in the sport, Letícia Bufoni, in addition to receiving her nickname: the skateboard fairy.

I don’t know anything about this but it’s awesome: a fairytale heelflip in Brazil by #RayssaLeal (via @oliverbarton) pic.twitter.com/uZgshHYMMT

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) September 8, 2015

At age 7, he traveled 2,800 km with his mother to compete in the Brazilian Street Skate Mirim Championship in Blumenau, Santa Catarina. The Maranhão came out as the first Brazilian champion of junior skateboarding. Since then, she has competed in championships at international levels, even winning stages in the SLS, the first and largest street skate league. After winning the Los Angeles stage in 2019, she became the youngest athlete to win a world stage and secured her spot at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics inaugurated the presence of skateboarding in the biggest athletic competition in the world. Divided into two formats, skate street and skate park, Brazil was represented by 12 athletes, half of them women, and won 3 silver medals. Kelvin Hoefler in the men’s street, Pedro Barros in the men’s park and Rayssa Leal in the women’s street. Rayssa became the youngest athlete to participate in the Brazilian delegation and the youngest Brazilian medalist at age 13.

Rayssa Leal’s impact on women’s skateboarding

Rayssa marked her name in the world history of skateboarding and sport. The girl who was the victim of jokes at school for skating, considered a “boy” sport, became an icon for thousands of girls who dream of being like her.

Rayssa represents a generation of women who shine in the sport and who have risen to the top of the podium after decades of repression. Until the late 1970s, women were prohibited from engaging in any physical activity. A black girl, coming from the interior of Maranhão, has the power to influence other girls and women to occupy places socially occupied by men.

In addition, the athlete brought great visibility to skateboarding, a sport that for a long time was not considered a sport and that was even banned in cities like São Paulo, being marginalized and seen with bad eyes. Brazilian pride skates and has as its motto: “if you can dream it, you can do it”.

10 facts about Rayssa Leal, the skate fairy

In addition to her achievements, Rayssa has been drawing attention for her charisma and the motivation that accompanies her in each competition. Discover the curiosities of the skateboarding champion:

1. At age 10, she was sponsored by Nike

In her interview with Esporte Espetacular, Rayssa wore her Nike sneakers that already had some holes and rips. The company saw it and decided to send her new models. The partnership was so successful that Rayssa became one of the youngest female athletes to be sponsored by the brand.

2. It was nominated for an Oscar of the sport

In 2020, Rayssa was nominated for the Laureus Award, considered the Oscar of world sport, in the category “Best Action Athlete”. The award was given to Chloe Kim, an American snowboarder, but Rayssa gave a show on the red carpet dressed as a fairy.

3. Friendship with Letícia Bufoni

Letícia Bufoni is considered one of the greatest skaters in history and a pioneer of female skateboarding in Brazil. Her achievements infected a girl in the countryside of Maranhão who had the dream of becoming a great skater like her. After meeting the two at Esporte Espetacular, it is possible to find them together beyond competitions, such as on vacation trips, such is the friendship they created. They affectionately call each other mother and daughter!

4. Highest rating in history among women in skateboarding

At the SLS stage in Salt Lake City, Rayssa shone on the track and reached the finals. Disputing first place in the competition against Japan’s Funa Nakayama, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, the Brazilian needed an 8.2 score to become champion. A note, until then, never achieved by a woman in the history of the competition. In her last maneuver, Rayssa Leal won the highest score among women: 8.5. The emotion was so great that her friends Felipe Gustavo and Letícia Bufoni invaded the track even before the final verdict.

5. Olympic Spirit Award

Through an online vote promoted by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), Rayssa Leal was elected the athlete who best represented the Olympic Spirit in Japan in 2021. The Maranhão competed for her moments of friendship with the Japanese Momiji Nishiya, who won the medal of gold while Rayssa took silver. She surpassed the American Simone Biles, a great athlete of artistic gymnastics who chose to prioritize her mental health over competing in all events at the Games. In addition to the award, the skater won the right to elect an institution to receive around 260 thousand reais. The chosen one was the NGO Social Skate, a reference in Brazil in the use of skateboarding as a tool for social inclusion.

6. She was named skater of the year in 2021

The year 2021 celebrated the greatest achievements of Rayssa’s career: medalist in Tokyo, SLS two-stage champion, world runner-up and champion of the STU Open Rio. To close with a flourish, Rayssa was elected the skater of the year by the Brazilian Skate Confederation.

7. Commanded a task force to renovate the skate park

The only skate park in the city of Imperatriz, where Rayssa was born and still lives, is located in Mané Garrincha square. After several requests and complaints to the government, the skaters made a crowdfunding and bought materials to cover the holes in the track. In a post on his social networks, Leal says that: “Unfortunately nothing changes, this is the situation at our track. Only those who skate know that a hole like that can cause a trip to the hospital”.

8. You already have more than 6 million followers on Instagram

Before the Tokyo Olympics began, the skate fairy had around 600,000 followers on her Instagram account. On the first day of the competition, she already had 3.36 million followers. In the end, more than 6 million people followed her on her main social network.

9. Was the cover of Vogue

In a special November issue with the jewelry company HStern, Rayssa left her fairy clothes aside and gave way to the brand’s jewelry to be the cover of Vogue Brasil.

10. Launched his own tennis

Launched in partnership with Nike, the “Nike SB Zoom Verona Slip x Rayssa Leal” was inspired by the video that went viral in 2015 and showed the potential of Rayssa Leal to the world. In a blue color, imitating the clouds and the fairy dress she wore, the sneaker still has the phrase “If you can dream, you can do it” on its insole, an expression that has a lot of meaning for the skater.

At 13 years old, Rayssa has already achieved a lot and still has a lot to shine. As she prepares to rock her next competition, why not check out the story of Leticia Bufoni, who is a skateboarder and friend of Rayssa Leal?