Brazil's guard Jacinto recovers for her first Olympics

Micaela Jacinto of Brazil (Photo credit: CFP)Photo Gallery>>(Beijing, August 4) -- Micaela Jacinto has recovered after a leg injury in time to play for the Brazil Women's Basketball team in her first trip to the Olympics.

The 29-year-old guard known for her tenacious defense trained with the national team eight years ago but was cut before the 2000 Sydney Games. Jacinto then missed the next Olympics in Athens because of an injured Achilles tendon. Brazil won the bronze in 2000 and came in fourth in 2004.

Jacinto was sidelined during her team's tour of Australia this July after straining her right thigh muscle, and she feared she would be forced to skip yet another Olympics.

"When I suffered the injury this year, I got really scared as it reminded me of what happened before Athens. That's why I'm so happy to play", said Jacinto after Brazil's first training session on August 3 at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium.

The team's first Beijing practice was also Jacinto's first day back on the court.

"Before today's training, I was feeling 50 percent and without pain," she said.

"I'm at 90 per cent and I hope I'll be at 100 soon. I can run, jump and play defense, which is the most important."

Brazil will face the Republic of Korea in their first game in the preliminary round of the Women's Basketball tournament. Jacinto expects to be pushed physically during the game.

"[Republic of Korea] is a really fast team, so I have to be able to run the whole game," Jacinto says.

The game between Brazil and the Republic of Korea, both teams in group A, will begin on August 9 at 4:45 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8).