Rayssa Leal: An Inspiring Message of Faith and Determination

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1. The Message in Libras

Rayssa Leal, the young Brazilian skater, won the bronze medal in women’s street skateboarding at the Paris 2024 Olympics. During the broadcast of the qualifying round, she made a gesture that caught the viewers’ attention: using Brazilian Sign Language (Libras), Rayssa said: “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life” ¹. This act, however, is forbidden by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

2. Rayssa’s faith

Rayssa, at 16, is a Christian and has a habit of repeating this message before competitions. She asks for strength and shares her faith with everyone. Sign language was chosen because it would be difficult for the broadcast microphone to pick up her voice. For Rayssa, communicating in this way is important ⁴.

3. The Debate and Possible Punishment

The religious gesture had repercussions on social media and sparked debate. The IOC prohibits religious or political messages during the Olympic Games. However, Rayssa played down concerns about a possible punishment, responding with good humor: “If I got a warning, I don’t know. It hasn’t reached me yet. If I get a warning, we’ll find out later” ⁴.

4. Reflections on Religion and Sport

Rayssa’s attitude leads us to reflect on how society should deal with religion in the context of sport. We must balance respect for the diversity of beliefs with the rules established to maintain neutrality in competitions. Sport brings together people from different backgrounds, and it’s important to find a path that promotes inclusion and understanding.

Conclusion

Rayssa Leal, with her inspiring message and unwavering faith, reminds us that determination and spirituality can coexist. May we learn from her courage and find ways to celebrate religious diversity without compromising sporting integrity. 🛹🙏⁵¹⁴

Sources:
(1) Olympics: bronze medalist Rayssa Leal uses sign language …. https://oglobo.globo.com/esportes/olimpiadas/noticia/2024/07/28/olimpiadas-medalhista-de-bronze-rayssa-leal-usa-linguagem-em-libras-para-mandar-mensagem-religiosa.ghtml.
(2) Rayssa Leal sends religious message in Libras; act is forbidden … – UOL. https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/ultimas-noticias/agencia/2024/07/28/rayssa-leal-manda-mensagem-religiosa-em-libras-ato-e-proibido-pelo-coi.htm.
(3) What does Rayssa Leal’s gesture in Libras mean … – LANCE!. https://www.lance.com.br/fora-de-campo/o-que-significa-gesto-em-libras-que-rayssa-leal-fez-em-comemoracao-nas-olimpiadas.html.
(4) 2024 Olympics: Rayssa Leal sends religious message in Libras; act is forbidden by the IOC. https://www.msn.com/pt-br/esportes/other/olimpíadas-2024-rayssa-leal-manda-mensagem-religiosa-em-libras-ato-é-proibido-pelo-coi/ar-BB1qN1VX.
(5) Rayssa Leal goes viral by declaring in Libras: “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life”. https://www.gp1.com.br/esportes/noticia/2024/7/28/rayssa-leal-viraliza-ao-declarar-em-libras-jesus-e-o-caminho-a-verdade-e-a-vida-575119.html.