Brazilian is surprise 100 winner at Pan Am Games
By Associated Press
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) - Tired, injured and unmotivated, Brazilian sprinter Rosangela Santos thought about skipping the Pan American Games altogether.
Now she’s happy she didn’t.
The Boston-born Santos earned gold in the women’s 100 meters Tuesday, winning in 11.22 seconds.
“This is so special for me,” said the 20-year-old Santos, who moved to Rio de Janeiro soon after she was born. “This is an incredible achievement after everything that I had to go through.”
Santos sustained consecutive muscle and knee injuries, sidelining her for two years and leaving doubts in her mind about whether she wanted to continue with her career.
“I thought about quitting athletics,” she said. “I asked not to be in the worlds because I was so tired and I wasn’t even coming to the Pan American Games. But my coach convinced me to come. He said I could get a good result. I didn’t really believe him, but I gave it a try.”
Santos said she couldn’t bear the grueling recovery processes that she had to go through because of her injuries.
“I didn’t want to practice anymore because every time I tried I had a lot of pain,” she said. “My self-esteem was very low and I didn’t want to do it anymore.”
Santos didn’t start well in Tuesday’s race and had to charge at the end to overcome Barbara Pierre of the United States just before the finish line. She improved her best career time, which she had set during the preliminary run in Guadalajara.
“She caught me right at that line,” said Pierre, who took silver in 11.25.
Santos said she regained some confidence after talking to Brazilian teammate Maurren Maggi, the defending Olympic long jump champion.
“I told her that I wasn’t expecting to do well at the Pan American Games, but she told me to stay positive because the best results always come at times when you don’t expect them,” Santos said.
Santos finished fourth with Brazil in the 4x100 relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and said her goal now is to make it to the 2012 London Games in the 100.
Despite being born in the United States, Santos said the gold was all Brazilian.
“The gold is for Brazil and will stay with Brazil for as long as I can keep it,” she said, smiling. “I have nothing to do with the Americans. You saw that I didn’t let them win.”