Maria Helena’s waiting game

VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's London Calling) - The 1976 Olympics came too late for Maria Helena Cardoso, a Brazilian who played the game with passion and helped win many fans to the women's game.

She was able to compete at the 1971 FIBA World Championship for Women in Sao Paulo and celebrated on the podium after the national team captured a bronze medal.

But she never had the opportunity to go to an Olympic Games, even though she had dreamed of doing so.

When Maria Helena was in the prime of her career, playing at an Olympics was a very real possibility.

"We had the joy of playing an exhibition game in 1965 in front of a FIBA commission in an attempt to win the approval for women's basketball at the Olympics," she said.

"The game was against Czechoslovakia in Madrid, Spain.

"It was a beautiful game and exciting game that we only lost in overtime."

Much to the relief of Maria Helena and women's basketball players around the world, the exhibition had the desired impact.

"It was approved (as an Olympic sport) by the commission but in the following years, at the Olympics in 1968 (Mexico City) and 1972 (Munich), the host nations didn't want to include women's basketball," Maria Helena said.

"When in 1976 it was accepted in Montreal, Canada, I was no longer playing."

Maria Helena is 72, now.

Her story was told in Brazil on Thursday, which was International Women's Day.

As we look ahead to London and listen to players who will be returning to the Olympics, or players who will make their debuts, we share in their excitement.

Taking part in an Olympic Games is the event of a lifetime.

It's easy to look back and reflect on those who had great moments at Olympic Games, but it's worth remembering those who never had a chance.

Maria Helena was among them.

She and Brazil had a team that was good enough to play at the Olympics but simply never had the opportunity.

Maria Helena did step onto the podium at a major event as a player when winning the bronze at the World Championship in Sao Paulo more than 40 years ago.

"It was a very talented group," she said.

"We achieved international success.”

Justice was served, at least partially, for Maria Helena in 1992.

Having gone into coaching, 16 years after women's basketball was included at the Games, Maria Helena led Brazil to Barcelona.

The Brazilians had to go through an Olympic qualifying round in Vigo, Spain, to get there.

"I was in charge of a very young generation, but talented," she said.

"I had the certainty that they would shine in the near future and that was the case."

Magic Paula and Hortencia were among the leading players in that side.

Brazil finished seventh at those Games and Maria Helena, having graced the Olympic stage as a coach, relinquished the reins.

Two years later and she was proved right because that young and promising Brazil team won the world title in Australia.

Then at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the Brazilians captured silver.

Jeff Taylor

FIBA

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