Gazela Negra donates sneakers and exit pads to the club
Historical articles from Érica Lopes' career are now part of the Rubro-Negro Historical Heritage collection.
By Communication - Official Club Website - in
The biggest name in red-and-black athletics, the Black Gazelle, visited the Club this week to donate items from her brilliant career defending the Sacred Mantle to the Historical Heritage Department. At 78, Érica Lopes shared the story behind the equipment—a pair of adidas sneakers and a starting block from the 1960s.
"I received these starting blocks from the Venezuelan international committee. They belonged to Olympic athletes competing in a South American competition, and I kept an eye on their blocks (laughs). I still keep them. I used the shoes here at the club," said Érica, who ran side by side with the players on the pitch at Gávea Stadium.
The Estácio de Sá samba school took Flamengo to Sapucaí with a theme about the Red-Blacks, celebrating the club's centennial in 1995. The lyrics became one of the school's most well-known and are still sung by the nation in the stands. In the verse "Black Gazelle, time runs in your eyes," the song pays tribute to Érica, who shares a curious fact about the parade.
"It was incredibly exciting, but you have no idea what I had to do to be able to go to Sapucaí. I had to take my husband out of Rio because he didn't want me to parade. The school president called me because my name was in the samba. Then my daughter had a conference in the United States during Carnival week and took him (Érica's husband) to Disney. That's how I was able to parade in the school's float. Zico was so into me, I knew he was Portuguese, and he said, 'The Portuguese won't let you show your legs!'" she says.
Érica Lopes arrived at Flamengo in 1960, standing out as the biggest star of the club's athletics, being the most important athlete in the titles won: the two-time women's state championship in 1960 and 1961 and two editions of the Brazilian Trophy, in 1962 and 1965. In the 100- and 200-meter races, she was unbeatable. Because of her ease of running and her speed, she became known as the Black Gazelle.
"I received these starting blocks from the Venezuelan international committee. They belonged to Olympic athletes competing in a South American competition, and I kept an eye on their blocks (laughs). I still keep them. I used the shoes here at the club," said Érica, who ran side by side with the players on the pitch at Gávea Stadium.
The Estácio de Sá samba school took Flamengo to Sapucaí with a theme about the Red-Blacks, celebrating the club's centennial in 1995. The lyrics became one of the school's most well-known and are still sung by the nation in the stands. In the verse "Black Gazelle, time runs in your eyes," the song pays tribute to Érica, who shares a curious fact about the parade.
"It was incredibly exciting, but you have no idea what I had to do to be able to go to Sapucaí. I had to take my husband out of Rio because he didn't want me to parade. The school president called me because my name was in the samba. Then my daughter had a conference in the United States during Carnival week and took him (Érica's husband) to Disney. That's how I was able to parade in the school's float. Zico was so into me, I knew he was Portuguese, and he said, 'The Portuguese won't let you show your legs!'" she says.
Érica Lopes arrived at Flamengo in 1960, standing out as the biggest star of the club's athletics, being the most important athlete in the titles won: the two-time women's state championship in 1960 and 1961 and two editions of the Brazilian Trophy, in 1962 and 1965. In the 100- and 200-meter races, she was unbeatable. Because of her ease of running and her speed, she became known as the Black Gazelle.