“The medal is just an object, but our name will remain in history for the rest of our lives.” Arthur Zanetti carries in his chest with affection an unforgettable performance at the 2012 London Olympics when he won the gold medal on the rings in artistic gymnastics. Esporte Espetacular started this Sunday a new section in the program remembering great achievements of Brazilian medalists at the Olympics. “Minha Medalha” featured the gymnast in the first episode and will feature eleven other Olympic champions.
My medal: Arthur Zanetti and gold at the London Olympics
– A movie practically plays in your head in a fraction of a second. A feeling of remembrance. It’s very emotional. It’s a precious object, right – recalled Arthur Zanetti when looking at the gold medal.
In a moment of great pressure and tension, Arthur Zanetti had to concentrate to remain static in his movements during his performance in the rings final in London 2012. The athlete’s connection with the moment is almost a meditative state, in which only concentration for perfect execution of the movements is what matters.
– My memory is not very good, there are few things I remember. It’s practically a trance moment. Everyone asks me what I was seeing at that moment. I don’t remember what I was seeing and I wasn’t hearing anything. I was simply paying attention to my body to see if everything was ok so as not to give Brazil the opportunity to miss out on this medal – said Zanetti.
The achievement was not only unforgettable for Zanetti, but for Brazil. Arthur dominated the event and brought the country the first Olympic medal in Brazilian gymnastics.
– I was having my day, it was a perfect series. Is too good. All athletes train hard to reach this moment and not everyone succeeds. I held on with all my strength and managed to bring the first gymnastics medal to Brazil and a gold medal soon followed. It’s a good weight to carry for the rest of our lives. As I said, she is just an object, but our name will remain in history for the rest of our lives – Arthur Zanetti was moved.
The painting “My Medal” will be shown every Sunday at Esporte Espetacular and will also feature eleven more Brazilian Olympic champions: Hebert Conceição, Fabi Alvim, Luísa Stefani, Fernando Scherer, Rafaela Silva, Ricardo Lucarelli, Italo Ferreira, Pedro Barros, Janeth Arcain , Shelda and Isabel Swan.
