PARIS (AP) — As a child, Rayssa Leal was warned again and again that skateboarding wasn’t for her.
“When I was small, many people told me I shouldn’t skate because skate was for boys and for men,” she said.
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Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, right, gestures during the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. At left is Liz Akama, of Japan, and center Coco Yoshizawa, also of Japan.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
PARIS (AP) — As a child, Rayssa Leal was warned again and again that skateboarding wasn’t for her.
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, gestures while waiting for her score during the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, is is overcome by emotion after winning the bronze medal in the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, poses with her bronze medal after the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, right, gestures during the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. At left is Liz Akama, of Japan, and center Coco Yoshizawa, also of Japan.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, executes a trick on the rail during the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, poses with her bronze medal after the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Now 16, the Brazilian star has become one of skateboarding's most recognizable faces, a two-time Olympic medalist after earning bronze Sunday at the Paris Olympics.
“Women, we fight every day and we are here,” she said. “Every day we fight against the prejudice ... so overcoming this is very important and this will be forever in our memory.”
Leal became the youngest Brazilian ever to participate in the Olympics when she won silver in street skateboarding at just 13 when the event debuted in Tokyo.
On Sunday, she needed a late run in the preliminary round to make it into the finals and needed another push at the end of the finals to snag her second medal. Leal scored a 92.88 on her second trick but didn’t land her next two to set up a dramatic finish.
She turned and raised her arms to pump up a crowd filled with fans in Brazil’s colors, many waving the country’s flag. She executed her last trick attempt for a score of 88.83.
While she takes her place in history seriously, she’s quick to point out that skateboarding isn’t meant to be serious.
“Skate is fun,” she said beaming after her win Sunday. “Skate is light. It’s full of creativity.”
Fans notice everything that the teenager does, from the trendy cargo pants she wore during Sunday’s competition to the bright blue shoestrings that adorned her sneakers.
Now that she’s among the older skateboarders in the competition, she has opted for edgier outfits at the park. While 14-year-old gold medalist Coco Yoshizawa of Japan and her teammate, 15-year-old silver winner Liz Akama, donned baggy clothing Sunday, Leal chose to bare her midriff by wearing a sports bra in her country’s colors.
People don’t simply notice her appearance and skateboarding skills though; they take note of everything she does during competitions. She makes the sign of the cross before every competition and wears a gold cross around her neck that she kisses before each run.
“This is important for me,” she said of her faith.
Leal first became an internet sensation when skateboarding king Tony Hawk shared a video of her at 7 doing a trick while dressed as a fairy princess. After her success in Tokyo, her popularity skyrocketed, and she had more than 6 million Instagram followers entering the Paris Games.
The public’s interest in her shows no signs of slowing down either. She’s gained about 1.5 million followers in the day since she won her second Olympic medal.
After breaking down barriers for years, Leal is thrilled to be representing her country and showing girls everywhere that if they want be skateboarders, nothing should stop them.
“The fact that we have a Brazilian playing in the Olympics, this makes the country very proud,” she said. “We know sports can change someone’s life. And if you dream high, your dreams may come true. This happened to me when I was very young. I dreamed of becoming a skateboard athlete and here I am.”
AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, reacts after landing a trick during the women's skateboard street preliminaries at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, gestures while waiting for her score during the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, is is overcome by emotion after winning the bronze medal in the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, poses with her bronze medal after the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, right, gestures during the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. At left is Liz Akama, of Japan, and center Coco Yoshizawa, also of Japan.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, executes a trick on the rail during the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Rayssa Leal, of Brazil, poses with her bronze medal after the women's skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
ATLANTA (AP) — Another big Atlanta crowd finally got a chance to see Lionel Messi in an MLS match.
They nearly watched United pull out a much-needed win over league-leading Inter Miami.
Alexey Miranchuk scored with a booming shot in the 84th minute and the home team pressed hard for the winning goal in stoppage time, only to settle for a 2-2 tie with Messi's Miami club before an announced crowd of 67,795 on Wednesday night.
After making a triumphant return to the Miami lineup with two goals and an assist last weekend, Messi started this game on the bench. Coach Gerardo Martino wanted to manage the minutes of his 37-year-old Argentine star, who is coming back from national team duties and an ankle injury with the club in the midst of a busy stretch.
Messi trotted on the field in the 61st to a big roar, shortly after Leo Campana scored off a deflected free kick to put the Herons in front. But the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner couldn't find the net in his limited time on the field, drawing plenty of attention from the United defenders.
“You've gotta keep an eye on him,” Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan said with a wry smile.
In June, Messi made an Atlanta appearance for Argentina in the opening game of the Copa America. But he didn’t play a year ago when Miami visited Atlanta, disappointing a crowd of 71,635.
He made the trip this time around, thrilling the crowd simply by warming up with three teammates shortly into the second half. Fans in the lower deck whipped out their phones and began snapping pictures.
Miami moved to 19-4-6 for 63 points with five matches remaining in the regular season. The Herons are eight points ahead of Cincinnati and LA Galaxy in the race for the Supporters' Shield and home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs.
Messi showed flashes. most notably with a point-blank shot that was swatted away by Guzan. Luis Suárez, who also came off the bench, collected the rebound with an open goal in front of him, only to be blocked at the line by Atlanta defender Pedro Amador.
In stoppage time, Messi dribbled around three players in the penalty area but failed to get off a shot. Finally, he threw up his arms in frustration when a pass was intercepted by Atlanta.
“Whoever plays, we try to support each other,” Miami defender Franco Negri said through a translator. “We know what Leo means, the importance he has.”
Martino was suspended for the match due to an accumulation of staff cautions, leaving assistant coach Javier Morales to run the team.
“I think we had a good performance,” Morales said. “But of course, Atlanta is at home. They're going to push. They had a big crowd, and this was the kind of game we were expecting.”
With the home team trailing 2-1, Miranchuk unleashed a left-footed shot from 20 meters out that found the top left corner of the goal.
United had been waiting for a moment like this from the Russian player who joined the club during the summer transfer window for reported $13 million fee, one of the highest ever for an incoming player to MLS. It was his first goal in four league matches.
“There’s not many goalkeepers in the world that are gonna save that one,” Guzan said. “That’s a glimpse of his quality and what he can do with the ball at his feet. We're trying to encourage him to do that more often.”
Both teams pressed forward in the closing minutes, with Atlanta creating the bulk of the chances, but neither could break through.
It was a discouraging result for Atlanta, which is 11th in the Eastern Conference and one point of out a playoff berth.
“We need three points,” Guzan said. “You have as many chances as we had, we should be coming away with three points.”
Miami grabbed the lead on David Ruiz’s goal in the 29th off another deflection. Negri’s pass hit someone just outside the area, somehow got through three other players and wound up going right to Ruiz, who was all alone between two Atlanta defenders and slid the shot past Guzan.
United tied it in the 56th when Saba Lobjanidze’s header slipped between the legs of Miami keeper Drake Callender.
Campana put the Herons ahead with a free kick that was intended for the right corner of the Atlanta goal. But the ball deflected off Dax McCarty and ricocheted into the net on the left side. Guzan, diving the other way, never had a chance.
Two minutes later, Messi came on for Julian Gressel.
UP NEXT
Inter Miami: Faces New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
Atlanta United: Travels to New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) works in front of Atlanta United midfielder Ajani Fortune (35) during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) works in front of Atlanta United midfielder Ajani Fortune (35) during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi controls the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi talks to a teammate during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami defender Serhiy Kryvtsov (27) and Atlanta United forward Daniel Ríos (19) battle for the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta United defender Derrick Williams (3) and Inter Miami forward Leonardo Campana (8) chase the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta United defender Stian Gregersen (5) and Inter Miami forward Leonardo Campana (8) battle for the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after during a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi controls the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10), right, and Atlanta United defender Derrick Williams (3) battle for control of the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
