Railany de Oliveira, a 13-year-old athlete from Bujari in Brazil’s Acre state, has been selected to represent Brazil at the South American School Games in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She is scheduled to compete in adapted athletics from November 30 to December 7, taking part in the 80 metres, long jump and shot put. Her coach considers shot put her strongest event and best chance of a medal.
Railany earned her place after winning gold in the shot put at the Brazilian School Games in Brasília in October. She recorded 9.12 metres in the event. A student at Escola Estadual Rural João de Deus Rodrigues, she has practised athletics for about three years.
Coach Wedson Coelho says the training plan now aims to improve on that result, with a target of reaching 10 to 11 metres. He said the team hopes to challenge for a podium finish, noting that the previous South American champion was Brazilian and threw 11 metres. Training has been intensified ahead of the competition.
Railany trains three to four times a week around her school schedule. Sessions take place at the Federal University of Acre campus in Rio Branco and in Bujari, where Coelho also arranges weekend practice on a sand court.
Coelho will not travel to Ecuador under the delegation’s rules, so other Brazilian coaches will support Railany at the Games. He said she is anxious about competing without the coach who has guided her for three years, and has encouraged her to see the experience as part of her development. He also said a strong result could help her qualify for the Bolsa Atleta benefit in 2027.
Railany’s selection has been celebrated in her rural community, according to Coelho. He said her achievement has also prompted other local students to ask about the athletics project and express interest in competing at national events.
Sources: Globo Esporte.