YOG to Olympics: the story of Moeko Nagaoka and Isabela Macedo

17 Aug 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Back in 2010, Japan's Moeko Nagaoka and Brazil's Isabela Macedo both played in the first-ever official 3x3 basketball event at the Youth Olympic Games. Six years later, they met again at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

I loved every moment of it! - Isabela Macedo

Isabela Macedo was just 18 when she flew all the way to Singapore to represent Brazil in the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games. The Salvador (Bahia) native discovered there a brand new basketball discipline - 3x3 - which made its official debut at the YOG.

"I loved the quickness of the game. I loved the one-on-one aspect of the game. This is my style of play!" the 1.79m forward said.

"I loved every moment of it. And for some reason, the Youth Olympics has its own magnitude."

Brazil played well in Singapore, beating traditional basketball heavyweights like Czech Republic in the pool phase and went all the way to the fifth place game against an impressive Japanese team.

Their star player Moeko Nagaoka remembers:

"It was a lot of fun! I enjoyed it. One of my most vivid memories is it was a physical game. I was young and I really learned from that!"

Japan eventually defeated Brazil in this game 32-29 and took an honourable 5th place.

I have taken that 3x3 experience and brought it to basketball - Moeko Nagaoka 

"It was another step up that prepared me for the big step here at the Olympics," the 22-year-old Nagaoka said.

After some stunning performances at youth level (Nagaoka was 3rd overall in scoring at the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship and Macedo topped all scorers at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship), both players were called up to represent their country at the Olympics.

"Playing my first Olympics in Rio, where I have been living for many years, was a big deal for me," Macedo admitted.

"I was really happy to be given a chance of playing for my country on the big stage like the Olympics. It felt like a dream and I wish I had never been awoken!"

Both players were the youngest on their team and had limited responsibilities in Rio (around 7 minutes of playing time per game).

Macedo had her best game against Japan (2 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in 16 minutes) but Nagaoka's team won that game (82-66) and Brazil was eliminated after the group phase.

Japan stunned France in the groups and gave USA a hard time for 20 minutes in the quarter-finals before bowing down 64-110.

Macedo and Nagaoka's time will come, probably in 4 years when the Olympic Games move to Tokyo in 2020.

And that time around, Nagaoka may have a chance to represent her country at home in one or both basketball disciplines, after FIBA made an official request to the International Olympic Committee to add 3x3 to the Olympic programme.

FIBA

Macedo and Nagaoka were not the only 3x3 alumni to feature at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Argentina's Gabriel Deck won the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia on 26-29 September 2013.

Spain's Astou Ndour won the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships in Rimini, Italy on 9-11 September 2011.

She competed at the event again the following year with team-mate Leticia Romero and Canada's Kiah Nurse.

Last but not least, France's Hélèna Ciak and Laetitia Kamba were silver-medallists at the FIBA 3x3 World Championships in Athens, Greece on 23-26 August 2012.