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Article: Brazil's 'black pearl' tumbles toward Athens - and Olympic history.(WORLD)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- July 6, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Andrew Downie Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
RIO DE JANEIRO -- She is 4 ft., 9 in., weighs less than 100 lbs., and when she smiles the braces on her teeth make her look half her 21 years.
But no one should mistake Daiane dos Santos's apparent physical slightness for frailty. When asked what it would mean to win the Olympic gold in floor exercise for which she is heavily favored, the little gymnast does not define what it would mean. She defines what it will mean.
"It will," she says confidently, "be the greatest achievement of my life."
Ms. dos Santos has reason to be confident. Poor, black, and a late ...