Santos back with Brazil after four-year hiatus

RIO DE JANEIRO (2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship) - Kelly Santos is a three-time Olympian.

She is also 35 years of age and hasn't played for Brazil the past four summers.

Don't write off the 1.92m center's chances of representing her country at next year's Olympics, though.

She has returned to the national team set-up this summer and will compete at the Pan American Games in Toronto.

Santos has a burning ambition to add one more Summer Games experience to her CV.

Next month at the Pan American Games in Canada and then at the FIBA Americas Women's Championship, Santos can boost her chances with some solid performances.

"I want to fight for Brazil and I know I can help the Brazilian team at the Rio Games," she said.

Her last event with Brazil was the 2010 FIBA Women's World Championship in the Czech Republic.

She was thrilled to get an invite to this summer's training camp. 

One very important reason for her involvement is the experience she can offer to the younger players, including some who played at last year's FIBA Women's World Championship in Turkey.

Santos first played for Brazil at the 1997 World Championship for Junior Women and the following year, she was in the squad that competed at the 1998 FIBA Women's World Championship in Germany.

Her Olympic participations were in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

Though the team narrowly missed out on the Quarter-Finals of the Beijing Games seven years ago, Santos had a big tournament, averaging 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Santos, speaking of her time away from the national team, said: "I've matured a lot in those four years.

"Now I'm back to Brazil as if I'm paying a debt."

I know that I am able to help Brazil and there is no greater motivation than this, to play in an Olympics in your country. - Santos

There are indeed plenty of youngsters who looked up to Santos that are now her teammates.

"I owe everything to my country and I am here to repay it," she said.

Santos, who has played the professional game as far away as Turkey, has been involved in some good causes while away from the national team.

"I focused on other things such as social work and NGOs [non-governmental organizations], which is one thing that pleased me a lot," she said.

"They have been years that have made me see life differently."

Being involved again with the national side was not something she was banking on.

"Receiving the news of my call [to this summer's national team] was a shock, but also a joy," she said.

"The time of the call made me remember all those years I devoted myself to the Brazilian national team.

"I thought if I could help these girls with my experience, then I would."

Her early impressions of coach Luiz Zanon are good.

"Zanon is very relaxed, but can be very clear on what he wants from each of us," she said.

"I really like that about him."

Right now the focus is on the Pan American Games.

"We will have to work very hard in order to get a medal in Toronto," she said. "But the conditions are right and we're capable."

FIBA