Roberta Perillier: In fact, my dream has always been the Olympics. When I was four, I was watching the opening ceremony of the Moscow Games—I think anyone my age will remember it well—and then Misha the Bear, the event's mascot, flew away, and I went to my bedroom window and watched, waiting for Misha to arrive. He, of course, never arrived, and I told my parents that one day I wanted to be part of that, the biggest sporting event in the world, that that was my dream. Since then, I've been involved in sports, competing in rhythmic gymnastics and then eventually moving into synchronized swimming.

 

My dream career was to be a doctor, but sports drew me to Physical Education, a course I loved and found myself in. I graduated from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), where I had wonderful professors and have exceptional memories. Physical Education fulfilled me because I realized I could work in a variety of ways. I could work not only in high-performance sports, which is my great passion, but also with classes for the elderly or more focused on the medical side, such as post-surgery recovery. I truly love what I do, and through different paths, I ended up in my profession.

 

Human beings are a whole. We have intellectual, cognitive, and physical development. A physical education teacher should be considered as important as a math teacher. For a developing child, they are equally fundamental. Furthermore, because we are so close to movement—and this is a very positive factor for children and adolescents—we end up becoming very close to the person we work with. I even believe that's what makes us so passionate about what we do. I stop being just a coach and often become almost like a mother. I end up dealing with several problems and things beyond the movement itself that I have to develop in synchronized swimming.

 

I think it's a shame that we often don't receive full recognition for this profession, which is extremely comprehensive, requires a great deal of study, and has a lot to offer. Physical Education professionals work with people and health, as well as with high performance.

 

There are many moments over these many years that I cherish. My first title with Flamengo was a defining moment, as was the 2007 Pan American Games, my first Olympics, finishing at the Olympic Village, which was truly a dream come true. And even some moments here, at the edge of the pool, with some of my athletes. Small things like a smile, a first movement, Eduarda Wolf's first Can-Can, which has stayed with me forever... and even little athletes, afraid of staying underwater for the entire exercise. There are truly so many good things to remember.

Roberta leads Flamengo's senior, youth, and junior synchronized swimming teams. In November, she will seek another national title for the "Mais Querido" (The Most Beloved), competing in the Brazilian Championship.

 

Clube de Regatas do Flamengo congratulates and thanks all the Physical Education professionals who are essential in making Mais Querido the largest multi-sport club in Brazil.