Playbook: Fabiola da Silva

The world's greatest female vertical inline skater on beaches in Brazil, gasping at the Vatican and beating guys on their own turf

By Cameron Morfit

For more great features check out Sports Illustrated Women's September issue, on newsstands now.

Fabiola da Silva   Harry How/ALLSPORT

The Lowdown: Single, 23, no boyfriend; speaks Portuguese, English (pretty well) and Spanish (a little rusty); born in São Paulo, Brazil, but rents a town house in Costa Mesa, Calif., with two friends; sponsored by Rollerblade. It's Fab, not Fabby, thank you, and definitely not Flabby -- da Silva, who lifts weights daily, was a junior kickboxing champion in 1997.

Where You've Seen Her: At press time Fab had won the gold medal in vertical inline skating at the X Games four times in five years -- more victories than any other woman. She inspired the Aggressive Skaters Association Pro Tour's Fab Rule, which allows women to prequalify and skate against men at regional events. "I never see myself as a celebrity. When I started I never thought inline skating would bring me to America and give me all the things that I have."

Such as... "Chachi, my 41/2-year-old miniature Yorkie. A girl, of course!"

Her Favorite Food: "Sweets, especially French vanilla ice cream with Oreos."

Her Favorite Food That Doesn't Involve Oreos: "Rice and beans with chicken. I make it myself, Brazilian style."

On Her Role Models: "My parents, Claudette and Ernesto, in São Paulo. The way they raised me, the way they support anything that I do."

The Most Amazing Thing She's Ever Seen: "Oh, I know! When I went to the Vatican. I'm a Catholic, so I always watch it on TV. When I was there I was like, Wow! It was beautiful."

On Falling: "I was doing some dumb trick in Brazil. I was going to do a 180 but ended up doing an [abbreviated] back flip, and I fell on my back."

On Her Male Competitors: "I love skating with the girls, but I want to be as good as the guys. Every time I watch them I'm inspired to learn new stuff. My heroes are Cesar Mora [of Sydney] and Arlo Eisenberg [of Plano, Texas]. I used to watch their videos; now they're good friends, and they push me."

Her Extracurricular Activities: "I go to the beach a lot. Maresias, in Brazil, is just beautiful -- clean water, lots of trees, nice sand. Not many people go there, only the ones who live in the little town. It's almost deserted."

What's Next: If all goes according to plan, she'll do a Fakie 900 (a backward 21/2 rotation flip) in competition at the 2002 X Games in mid-August. "I tried it at Vans Skate Park in Orange, Calif., a month ago. I was landing it all the time, but then I landed kind of weird and twisted my ankle, so I'm taking a little break for now."

Her Advice for Anyone Looking to Make a Movie of Her Life: "It would have to star somebody active. I know who could do it, that girl who did Girlfight [Michelle Rodriguez]. She's sick!"

For more great features check out Sports Illustrated Women's September issue, on newsstands now.