Anyone who watches the games of the Cherries Bomb women’s flag football team, from Ouro Branco-MG, is delighted to see the quarterback Nara Sant’Ana acting. The athlete was born with a disability and does not have her left hand, but that does not prevent her from practicing high-performance sports and leading a normal life. Proof of this is that in December, the player led her club to the title of the Minas Gerais championship of the modality played in Monte Santo, a city located in the Southwest of Minas Gerais.
In an interview with Valinor Content, Nara Sant’Ana highlights the emotion and challenges of taking Cherries Bomb to the Minas Gerais title. The player also highlighted the mishaps days before the competition and how it led the group to become even stronger in pursuit of this dream.
“The whole process before our departure was very challenging. We decided to go at the last minute and had several athletes missing. Two days before the competition we still didn’t have the transport that would take us to the championship confirmed. But getting there, the atmosphere of competition took over our team. We are very close, we talk a lot and we decided to use these challenges as motivation. After all the games we got together and remembered all these challenges. I think that team unity and willpower were the main points that made us reach the title”, he recalled.
In addition to the logistical challenges and lack of athletes, Nara Sant’Ana also had to overcome an injury to her right shoulder, discovered during the Mineiro de flag football. Therefore, the athlete will have to start a treatment next season to stay 100%.
“Three days before the championship, I received the result of an MRI on my shoulder and discovered several injuries. I went to play, but on pain medication and my shoulder was very compromised. Now, I intend to do the physiotherapy sessions and recover from this injury. But as soon as I’m recovered, I intend to train hard to contribute to the Cherries Bomb team in everything I can, “he said.
Overcoming, family and love of sport
Despite the fact that flag football is a sport in which the hands are essential, Nara Sant’Ana reveals that, as she was raised by her parents, it helps her to overcome adversity. Even with the disability, the athlete stresses that she has always practiced sports and other activities.
“I was born with my disability, so for me my body has always been normal. My parents treated me the same way they treated my brothers, without giving too much evidence of my disability. We talked about it, but always very naturally and that’s how we lived. When I was a child I took swimming, ballet, dance classes, but what I really liked was sports. At the age of 11, I took the initiative to start playing handball. Within handball, I participated in several championships, from 11 to 26 years old”, he highlighted.
“Playing sports practiced with your hands, without one hand, seems like something hard to imagine, doesn’t it? But if they saw me playing football or any other sport with my feet, they would understand why I insist on playing sports with my hands”, completed Nara, who was also a Minas Gerais handball champion.
Asked about how flag football came into her life, the athlete said that the modality came about by chance and that she also had no idea of the responsibility that a quarterback has for the team, when she chose the position.
“I confess that I didn’t know the flag, nor American football, I used to follow it. But then came the idea of forming a female flag team here in Ouro Branco and we started training. One day, right at the beginning of training, one of the coaches said ‘let’s choose the positions’. Without thinking too much, I said ‘I want to be that person who throws the ball’, without having the slightest idea of the responsibility of being a team’s QB. And so it was! Afterwards, the coaches started to do the specific training with me, ”she explained.
Discrimination and the importance of being an example to others
Despite having always led a normal life, Nara Sant’Ana reveals that in some situations she has noticed different looks from other people, but believes that the example she sets is greater than any unpleasantness she may receive in the sport.
“In sports, I always noticed different looks, people who came to talk to me after games, but that never bothered me, even as a child. I was always very dedicated and sought recognition because of my abilities and not because of my disability. I don’t mind people asking or commenting or staring. I always see this as a positive thing. Imagine if in all sports championships we had a person with a non-standard body having the opportunity to play on an equal footing against their opponent? I think the message I can send is much bigger than any offensive comment, so I focus only on that”, he highlighted.
Physical education teacher, Nara Sant’Ana also talks about the importance of creating a culture from childhood on people who don’t have a standard body defined by society. She also believes that performing with people without some form of disability can inspire others to do the same.
“I am a Physical Education Teacher at School and, without wanting to be overbearing, I think it is extremely important that children of formative age have a Physical Education Teacher with a body that is completely outside the standard that our society preaches for someone in the sports field. I know it may seem small, but these children will already grow up thinking differently and seeing a body with a disability as something common, not limiting”, she explains.
“These kids will spread that message. In the same way, someone who has a disability and is in the stands watching me play can begin to see the possibility of one day being on the field too, understanding that on the field, playing, can also be her place. Or someone could be watching a game of mine and have a relative or friend who also has a disability and talk to that person and invite them to play a sport or something. Anyway, do you understand how the question of representativeness matters? I want to use my place of speech and spread the message that people with disabilities can do whatever they want, they can and should occupy all places, only our minds are capable of limiting us”, he concludes.
