Training and tributes mark Chayenne Silva's last days before the Tokyo Games

A black woman with a difficult financial situation and living in the West Zone. At just 21 years old, Chayenne Silva discovered early on that nothing would be easy. Despite all the difficulties that life imposed on her and the many times she was told that she would not be able to go far, the Brazilian sprinter did not give up. From the time she was a striker on her school soccer team in Paciência to her first steps in track and field at the Oscar Schmidt Olympic Village in Santa Cruz, the Rio native decided that her destiny depended solely on her own will. And the result of her efforts is clear: next Friday, she will represent Brazil in the 400m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympic Games, which begin on July 23.

The fastest woman in the country in the sport (55s15), breaking a record that had stood for 12 years, Chayenne is using her last days in Rio to train at the City Hall's equipment, in Santa Cruz, and to assimilate the realization of her biggest dream in life.

– Competing in the Olympics is every athlete’s dream, it’s the pinnacle. I want to do my best, fight for a medal, but I feel like I’ve accomplished my mission: to show that we can do it. We who are women, are black, and are from the West Zone, go through hardships. My family never thought about giving up. Today I see myself as an example for children, women… We can go far. I’m going to Tokyo for all of us – says Chayenne, unable to hide her emotion.

On Tuesday (13), in addition to an interview session, the sprinter received a visit from Sports Secretary Guilherme Schleder, whom Chayenne approached in January, when she was asked about how to improve the training track at the Olympic Village. For her, the new facilities at the site will greatly help in the training of new athletes.

– The situation has improved a lot. The village of Santa Cruz is my home, I make a point of training here so that people in the area can see that they can have a victorious path too – he explained.

 

 

Secretary Guilherme Schleder presented a plaque of thanks and wished good luck in Tokyo.

– It is a great joy to have Chayenne going to the Olympics, because she was raised in Santa Cruz and has been using the space since she was little. And that is what the villages are for, for the first contact with sports. When we have an athlete who stands out like Chayenne, who goes to the Olympics, it is a great satisfaction. We will give all the support that the City Hall can so that she can continue training in Rio and that many other athletes come from here. May she bring home a medal – said Schleder.

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14 July 2021

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