Three Brazilians Continue Pursuit of Pro Category Title at ArcelorMittal Wahine Bodyboarding Pro
On Wednesday (24), Capixaba Luna Hardman and Maylla Venturin, alongside Carioca Dani Freitas, advanced to the quarterfinals. Three Japanese athletes – including world number 1 and defending champion, Sari Ohhara – and two Portuguese athletes also remain in contention.
The ArcelorMittal Wahine Bodyboarding Pro, the women’s stage of the Bodyboarding World Circuit, reaches the quarterfinals on Thursday (25) at Jacaraípe Beach, in Serra, Espírito Santo. And three Brazilians secured a spot in the Professional category in this next phase of the 2024 edition: Capixabas Luna Hardman – world number 2 – and Maylla Venturin (5), alongside Carioca Dani Freitas, one of the stars of bodyboarding in the 90s. Also qualified are the Japanese Sari Ohhara – world ranking leader and defending champion – Yuka Nishimura (9), and Namika Yamashita (5), along with the Portuguese Luana Dourado and Teresa Padrela (9).
“I want to thank all the fans for their support. I am happy to be doing well here in Brazil. We’re going all out for the next stages, heat by heat. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Neymara Carvalho Institute and ArcelorMittal for their support,” said Luna, qualified in Pro and Junior.
Wednesday (24) was a day of intense competition for the best waves and classification. In the Professional category, one of the heats caught attention by putting three generations of bodyboarders in the search for a place in the next stage of the competition: Capixaba Neymara Carvalho, 48 years old, Sari, 29 years old, and Luana, only 14 years old. The two spots in the heat for the quarterfinals went to Sari, who finished first, followed by Luana.
“I am very happy with what I managed to do today (Wednesday). I can only be thankful,” celebrated Sari, who is fighting for the Professional title in Serra for the second time and has been participating since the first edition of the women’s stage of the Circuit, which is in its third year.
Quarterfinal matchups: Yuka Nishimura vs. Luana Dourado; Sari Ohhara vs. Namika Yamashita; Luna Hardman vs. Dani Freitas; and Maylla Venturin vs. Teresa Padrela.
Dani and Maylla are also standout competitors in the Master category, favorites alongside the two-time champion, Carioca Mariana Nogueira, who finished the day in first place, taking another step towards the triple crown. Maylla finished second, with Tina Falcão and Francis Aoto tied for third.
In the Pro Junior, the top three in the category so far are favorites Luna Hardman, Emie Padois (France) – the youngest competitor in the event at 11 years old – and Hawaiian Aarya Talbano.
The 2024 edition of the ArcelorMittal Wahine Bodyboarding Pro has a record number of 115 entries. There are 75 athletes, from seven countries – Brazil, Chile, France, Hawaii, Japan, Peru, and Portugal -, some in more than one category. The Professional, Master, Pro Junior, and Open categories are in dispute. The Disability category defined its champions on Sunday (21), the first day of the event.
Mothers and Sons in the Water – Highlighted last year, the Mothers and Daughters category is back. And in 2024, as Mothers and Sons, scheduled for this Saturday (27). One of the athletes, Mariana Siqueira, will enter the water with her son Noah. Two more Brazilians participate: Naara Carolyne, with daughter Maria Cecília, and Aline Rodrigues with Liz. Alongside them, Portuguese Catarina Sousa, with Concha. The category was created especially to give visibility to athletes who balance sports and motherhood, promoting unity and female empowerment.
Mobile Court at Solemar Beach – Until the end of the championship, the Maria da Penha Law’s Mobile Court bus, a public policy of the Espírito Santo State Court of Justice, is at Solemar Beach, with guidance services on combating domestic and family violence against women and support by social workers and psychologists from the Serra City Hall, between 8 am and 2 pm. The Maria da Penha Itinerant Court has been operating for twelve years, used to assist women who need analysis for the granting of urgent protective measures, removal from home, search, and seizure.
ArcelorMittal Wahine Bodyboarding Pro 2024 Schedule
04/25 – Professional category quarterfinals; continuation of the Master, Pro Junior, and Open (Amateur) categories.
04/27 – 2 pm to 4 pm – Awards Ceremony; 7 pm – Closing Cocktail.
The Wahine Bodyboarding Pro 2024 has master sponsorship from ArcelorMittal, the Espírito Santo State Government