On October 15th of last year, forward Kerolin suffered a serious injury in a game of her team, the North Carolina Courage, against the Washington Spirit in the US League – a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee. She saw there the imminent risk of being out of the Paris Olympics, but she did not let herself be defeated by the depression.
At that time, the stipulated deadline for her to return to activities was six to eight months. With willpower, the help of several professionals and intense work at the club, Kerolin was able to recover and recently returned to training with the North Carolina Courage.
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However, she knew that her trip to the Paris Olympics was an unknown, although she remained confident. “But I was already preparing for a ‘no’ as well, because the injury had a long recovery period,” she said.
“On the day of the call-up, I lived a very emotional moment when Arthur (Elias) read my name. I am very grateful to him and I also have to thank my club teammates, Mike Young and Mario Luigi (respectively the physical trainer and the Director of Sports Rehabilitation at North Carolina Courage) and also my family, especially my parents, Anderson and Tati, who have always supported me.”
Elected the best player in the US Women’s League in 2023, Kerolin is already fully adapted to the training routine in Teresópolis (RJ) with her national team colleagues. And, like them, she is now living the expectation of competing in the Paris Olympics.
“I arrived here a little nervous and emotional. But, as the days go by, we have been assimilating more and more what Arthur asks of us, with the focus on our great goal. I had calmness and turned the switch. I’m here to help this group, it’s a collective, a unity, everyone wanting to put a star on the yellow jersey.”
