CERULLO Isadora

General
CAREER PATH
She was raised in the United States of America, but moved back to Brazil in 2014 to pursue a career in rugby. It was the same year when she had passed her medical school entrance exam in the United States of America. "My path was outlined. I was supposed to go to the medical school but then I watched the Olympics on TV. I spent four months wondering if it was worth dropping everything and trying your luck in the sport. But I thought that I would never forgive myself if I let this opportunity pass. I was starting to prepare for medical school. In the meantime, one of my coaches told me that the Brazil women's rugby team was looking for Brazilian athletes living overseas. I contacted the team, then I spent five weeks playing friendly matches with the developing team. And then I was offered a contract." (rugbyworld.com, 05 Dec 2018; epoca.globo.com, 11 Aug 2016; clipping.cservice.com.br, 28 Jul 2015)

OLYMPIC PROPOSAL
Marjori Enya proposed to Cerullo at the end of Brazil's match at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "Marjorie's intentions, when she proposed, were for it to be simple with her venue staff, also her family who was in Rio for the year since she was working for the Olympics. It was supposed to be a contained thing but then someone alerted the press and it got a bit out of hand, if you will. We didn't realise it'd be so [viral]. The proposal said a lot about gender politics in sport, not just in Brazil. It was a huge turnaround to have a moment that was supported by rugby but also by the Olympic movement." (rugbyworld.com, 05 Dec 2018)