Hortencia Marcari
Encyclopedia
Hortência Maria de Fátima Marcari (born September 23, 1959 in Potirendaba
, São Paulo
, Brazil
) is a former basketball
player who is often considered to be one of the greatest women's basketball player in Brazil, alongside with Paula
, and regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball player of all ever in the world by specialists in the world. Marcari is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
(inducted in 2002), the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2005), and FIBA Hall of Fame
(inducted in 2007). She is known in her country as Hortência, and her nickname is The Queen.
When Hortência was ten years old, her family moved to São Paulo, and Hortência became interested in sports. Her family disapproved of her choice to play sports---her father had been disabled on the field so they wanted her to work bringing home part of the earnings her father used to---
but they eventually gave up on trying to prevent her from doing her favorite activity.
At the age of thirteen, in 1972, Hortência began to play street basketball on her school
gym. One year later, she was spotted by Waldir Paga Perez, coach of Brazil women's national basketball team
. Hortência was playing for the national team at age fifteen.
Hortência began to play as a professional with the São Caetano
Esporte Clube, becoming an instant celebrity in Brazil. Over the years, she played for Associação Prudentina, C.A Minercal, C.A Consteca/Sedox, NCNB Ponte Preta
and ADC Seara until she retired from professional basketball in 1996, one year before Arcain began playing in the United States' WNBA. Hortência was a teen idol
to many female basketball fans in the cities she played at, particularly at Prudentina where during an interview with Jeremy Larner
she was stopped many times by autograph
seekers on her way from her house to a game.
Hortência's first international experience came in 1976, when Brazil's women's national basketball team won the South American juvenile championship in Paraguay
. In 1979, she helped her team to a fourth place at the Pan American Games
held in Puerto Rico
. In 1983, Hortência and the national team improved their previous Pan American performance by winning a bronze medal at the Venezuela
games, while in 1987 Hortência and the Brazilian Women's national team went yet one step further by winning a silver medal at the 1987 Indianapolis
Pan American Games. In 1991, Hortência and the Brazilian women's national basketball team won the gold medal at that year's Pan American tournament held in Cuba
. In 1992, Hortência helped her team to a bronze medal at the Pre-Olympic competition held in Spain, returning later that year to that country to play in the Olympic Games
for the first time. Brazil settled for the seventh place at the Barcelona Olympics
.
Finally in 1994, Hortência won the women's world basketball championship
in Australia, making Brazil the only country other than the Soviet Union
or the United States to win the title (Australia became the fourth in 2006). The semi-final against USA is considered one of the greatest in history and shocked the world with the victory. After the silver medal in the next Olympic Games Marcari retired from international competition.
Apart from those competitions, she also played in Peru
, Singapore
, Malaysia, Bulgaria
and South Korea.
Despite the fact her team did not qualify for the 1984 Olympics
in Los Angeles
, Hortência was featured on those games' official program, in an article named The Queen.
Potirendaba
Potirendaba is a city/municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The city has 15,449 inhabitants and an area of 342.4 km².Potirendaba belongs to the Microregion and Mesoregion of São José do Rio Preto....
, São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) is a former basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who is often considered to be one of the greatest women's basketball player in Brazil, alongside with Paula
Maria Paula Silva
Maria Paula Gonçalves da Silva, also known as Magic Paula , is a retired Brazilian basketball player. She is considered one of the greatest players in her country, along with Hortência Marcari and Janeth Arcain...
, and regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball player of all ever in the world by specialists in the world. Marcari is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...
(inducted in 2002), the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2005), and FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame honors basketball players, coaches and administrators who have contributed to international competitive basketball. It was established by FIBA in 1991. It includes the "Samaranch Library", the biggest basketball library in the world that, as of 2007, has over 10,000 basketball...
(inducted in 2007). She is known in her country as Hortência, and her nickname is The Queen.
Biography
Hortência is of Italian background, her grandparents having moved to Brazil from that European nation. Hortência's father was a laborer.When Hortência was ten years old, her family moved to São Paulo, and Hortência became interested in sports. Her family disapproved of her choice to play sports---her father had been disabled on the field so they wanted her to work bringing home part of the earnings her father used to---
but they eventually gave up on trying to prevent her from doing her favorite activity.
At the age of thirteen, in 1972, Hortência began to play street basketball on her school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
gym. One year later, she was spotted by Waldir Paga Perez, coach of Brazil women's national basketball team
Brazil women's national basketball team
Brazil women's national basketball team is the official women's basketball team for Brazil. They won the 1994 FIBA World Championship for Women in Australia.-Olympic Games:* 1992: 7th place* 1996: 2nd place * 2000: 3rd place...
. Hortência was playing for the national team at age fifteen.
Hortência began to play as a professional with the São Caetano
Associação Desportiva São Caetano
Associação Desportiva São Caetano, commonly known as São Caetano, is a Brazilian football team based in the city of São Caetano, Brazil, part of the São Paulo greater metropolitan area. The team is dubbed Azulão , after the shirt colour. The sponsor is Consul, a well known Brazilian producer of...
Esporte Clube, becoming an instant celebrity in Brazil. Over the years, she played for Associação Prudentina, C.A Minercal, C.A Consteca/Sedox, NCNB Ponte Preta
Associação Atlética Ponte Preta
Ponte Preta is a Brazilian football club located in Campinas, São Paulo. Ponte Preta is also known as Macaca. Ponte Preta's biggest rival is from the same city: Guarani. The games between Ponte Preta and Guarani are known as derby . They are known as "pontepretanos"...
and ADC Seara until she retired from professional basketball in 1996, one year before Arcain began playing in the United States' WNBA. Hortência was a teen idol
Teen idol
A teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols began their careers as child actors...
to many female basketball fans in the cities she played at, particularly at Prudentina where during an interview with Jeremy Larner
Jeremy Larner
Jeremy Larner is an author, poet, journalist and speechwriter. He won an Academy Award in 1972 for Best Original Screenplay, for writing The Candidate.-Childhood:...
she was stopped many times by autograph
Autograph
An autograph is a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.Autograph also refers to a person's artistic signature...
seekers on her way from her house to a game.
Hortência's first international experience came in 1976, when Brazil's women's national basketball team won the South American juvenile championship in Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. In 1979, she helped her team to a fourth place at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
held in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. In 1983, Hortência and the national team improved their previous Pan American performance by winning a bronze medal at the Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
games, while in 1987 Hortência and the Brazilian Women's national team went yet one step further by winning a silver medal at the 1987 Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
Pan American Games. In 1991, Hortência and the Brazilian women's national basketball team won the gold medal at that year's Pan American tournament held in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. In 1992, Hortência helped her team to a bronze medal at the Pre-Olympic competition held in Spain, returning later that year to that country to play in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
for the first time. Brazil settled for the seventh place at the Barcelona Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.
Finally in 1994, Hortência won the women's world basketball championship
FIBA World Championship for Women
The FIBA World Championship for Women is a world basketball tournament for women's national teams held quadrennially...
in Australia, making Brazil the only country other than the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
or the United States to win the title (Australia became the fourth in 2006). The semi-final against USA is considered one of the greatest in history and shocked the world with the victory. After the silver medal in the next Olympic Games Marcari retired from international competition.
Apart from those competitions, she also played in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Malaysia, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and South Korea.
Despite the fact her team did not qualify for the 1984 Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Hortência was featured on those games' official program, in an article named The Queen.
See also
- List of basketball players who have scored 100 points in a single game
- List of Brazilians
- Women's Basketball Hall of FameWomen's Basketball Hall of FameThe Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...