Daniele Hypólito’s career is intertwined with the history of artistic gymnastics in Brazil. At the age of 15, she made her Olympic debut at the Sydney 2000 Games, achieving the best result up to that point for a Brazilian in the discipline, and changing the sport’s course in the country. Fourteen years later, Daniele is a veteran competitor and Brazil is emerging as one of the gymnastics powers in the Americas.

“Since I took up the sport, Brazilian gymnastics has come a long way”, says Hypólito, who paved the way for a talented generation of Brazilian gymnasts, including Daiane dos Santos, Arthur Zanetti and Jade Barbosa.

Hypólito is currently preparing for the Rio 2016 Games, the fifth and final time she will compete in the Olympic Games. The 29-year-old, who intends to retire from competition immediately after the event, is excited about ending her career in front of the Brazilian people.

“The Olympic Games are always special because we know we are competing for our country, and this is a very strong motivation. We athletes strongly feel the people’s energy and this makes a difference during competitions. At the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio, the support coming from the stands was incredible, and we know that at the Rio 2016 Games this support will be even stronger.”

Hypólito won gold in the team event at the South American Games in March 2014 (Photo: COB/Gaspar Nobrega)

With more than two years to go, Hypólito  still has a lot left to contribute to the development of Brazilian gymnastics. She knows the importance of her influence and so she is taking care to leave a legacy for her younger compatriots. She believes that the focus and persistence that have characterised her career are the main lessons to pass on the new generation.

“Determination is part of everyday life in gymnastics. I always try to explain that there are many obstacles in the life of an athlete, but with a lot of effort we always manage to overcome them. The important thing is to never give in.”

Hypólito lives and trains in Curitiba, the city in southern Brazil that is home to the Brazilian Gymnastics Federation and the national training centre. She and another 11 athletes are being coached by Russian Alexander Alexandrov and his technical assistant Oleg Ostapenko, form the Ukraine.

“This exchange between countries with more of a history in gymnastics is very positive,” Hypólito said. “This doesn’t mean that Brazil will lose its essence, just that we will learn from people who have a lot to teach us.”

After retiring from competition, Hypólito says she is likely to continue working in an area related to gymnastics, but she avoids talking – and even thinking – about this subject: she continues to focus on training and learning at an elite level. “Until 2016 there’s still a lot to happen, many competitions to compete in.”