Maria Rodrigues facts for kids
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's athletics | ||
Representing  Brazil |
||
| South American Championships | ||
| Gold | 2001 Manaus | 5000 m |
| Gold | 2001 Manaus | 10,000 m |
| Gold | 2003 Barquisimeto | 5000 m |
Maria Cristina Bernardo Vaqueiro Rodrigues, born on June 4, 1971, is a former long-distance runner from Brazil. She was a very successful athlete who won many races. She is especially known for winning three gold medals at the South American Championships in Athletics.
Maria Cristina Rodrigues: Brazil's Running Star
Maria Cristina Rodrigues was a top long-distance runner. This means she was great at races like the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters. These races are all about speed and endurance over long distances. She showed amazing talent and dedication throughout her career.
Her Amazing Achievements
Maria Cristina Rodrigues won several important medals for Brazil. In 2001, she won two gold medals at the South American Championships in Manaus, Brazil. She was the champion in both the 5000 meters and the 10,000 meters races. This was a fantastic "double win" for her!
Two years later, in 2003, she won another gold medal. This time, she kept her title in the 5000 meters race at the South American Championships in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. This showed she was consistently one of the best runners in South America.
She also competed on the world stage. Maria Cristina represented Brazil twice at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. These are big international races where athletes run across different types of terrain. She also took part in the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships.
Besides her gold medals, she earned other international awards. In 2000, she won a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the Ibero-American Championships. She also won a silver medal at the South American Cross Country Championships in 1999.
National Champion
Maria Cristina Rodrigues was not only a star on the international stage. She was also a champion in her home country. In 2003, she became the Brazilian champion in the 5000 meters race. This was a great achievement, proving she was the best in Brazil.
