Brazilian Keila Costa after her South American Triple Jump record in Sao Paulo (© Wander Roberto de Oliveira/CBAt)
When Brazilian Maurren Maggi won the Olympic Long Jump title in Beijing it was an historic moment for athletics in the South American region. The 32-year-old from São Carlos became her country’s first ever female Olympic champion, and also the first in South America.
But after the moment of glory, the challenge presents itself once again: who can continue the line of success? All experts point towards compatriot Keila Costa.
“Keila is the sure bet when we think about Maurren’s successors… She is already writing her own story, after 2 silver medals at the Pan-American Games, a place in the finals of Osaka – both at Triple and Long Jump there –, the World Indoors of Valencia and Beijing,” comments Nélio Moura, coach of both athletes, as well as Men’s Olympic Long Jump champion, Panama’s Irving Saladino.
“Maurren’s triumph was a great motivation for Brazilian athletes”, says the 25-year-old from Recife (Pernambuco). “She showed us all that with dedication and determination we can get as far as we dream of”.
Costa - The One
After a promising youth campaign capped with a bronze medal at Triple at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston, Costa’s career finally took-off in 2007, in her full second year after joining Moura’s group. Personal bests of 6.88 and 14.57 (also a South American record), plus a wind-aided 15.10 in Triple, along with multiple important victories and places in the World Championships finals were the ratification of a job well done.
Now, to build on Maggi’s success, a second phase is due to start for the athlete born in the north-east of the South American nation.
“2008 wasn’t as positive as 2007 because of the injury I suffered on my right knee, which mostly affected my Triple jumping. I had to switch the take-off leg to my left one. Yet, in spite of not being able to reach my best, I could get to the Olympic final, so that gave me a huge boost of confidence for the future”, adds Costa.
Moura is the key
Nélio Moura is a quiet man who loves what he does: coaching athletes. Very humble for the success he has experienced in the past years, Moura lets the results speak for him, and lately they have done so in a very clear way. Yet, some of his athletes, like Costa are not shy at all. “I think I can become one of the top 5 in the world at Long and Triple. I need dedication and perseverance, but I also need a coach like the one I have: Nélio Moura”.
“The titles obtained by Maurren and Irving were extremely important and gave our events lots of good exposure. Maurren is very charismatic, idolized in Brazil. The Olympic gold medal, the first by a female in an individual sport for our country, couldn’t have been brought by better hands than hers.”
“She has become a great source of inspiration for our youth. The fact that Irving won a gold medal training in Brazil also shows that hers wasn’t a situation of coincidence, and that makes our case stronger, especially when we are searching for more support”, adds Moura.
“Both Maurren and Irving are extremely talented, but besides their talent, we must underline their determination, both at training and competition. They are very intelligent people, and our system of work has been very well suited for them”, remarks Moura.
“In Brazil, we never prepared an Olympic cycle like this past one. The President of the Brazilian Confederation (CBAt), Dr. Roberto Gesta de Melo, saw the window of opportunity that the 2007 Pan-American Games of Rio gave us. And with that on sight, he built the budget for the Games, which turned out to be a great success for our national sport. With that momentum, we carried on to Beijing where we had one of the best collective performances ever”, continues Moura.
“Now, our perspectives are very promising. CBAt and Consudatle are continuing with its support, and our new club – Rede Atletismo – is carrying on a developing programme which is revolutionary for Brazilian Athletics”, comments Moura. “All we need is more support for the young athletes”, adds Costa.
A look to the future
“The goals for next year will be to have a handful of finalists at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, and maybe to earn more than a medal.
Keila Costa has already a place among the world elite. Adding more experience and being injury free, she will be among the candidates for World Championships and Olympic medals”, continues Moura. “We also have two other emerging female jumpers, as well as several good male ones: Gisele de Oliveira (Triple) and Eliane Martins (Long). We will also keep on working on young athletes along with CBAt and our club, hoping to have a promising future”, ends Moura.
As per Costa’s progression, she agrees on her coach’s outlook. “I need to continue putting more dedication, and do everything I can to stay away from injuries. My goal is to be among the world’s best in the next years, and when the 2012 London Olympic Games come, be able to win a medal for my country, just like Maurren. In the process of getting there, I dream with reaching 7m, but I believe that any medal will be more important for me and for Brazilian athletics.”
Eduardo Biscayart for the IAAF
