Gisele Bundchen Nearly Rattled to Tears Before Rio Opening Ceremony Catwalk
Bundchen's walk, that seemed to go on and on and on to the bossa nova classic "The Girl From Impanema," was easily one of the most talked about events during the extravaganza
By Eric L. Hinton ••
Gisele Bundchen has walked thousands of catwalks across all corners of the globe over her iconic career, but even the mighty supermodel found herself nearly brought to tears at the prospect of walking during the Rio Olympics opening ceremony while millions watched across the globe.
"Are you kidding me? I was nervous," the supermodel told "Today's" Natalie Morales Monday. "I just wanted to make the Brazilians proud, you know. Because they chose me to represent them. I didn't want to disappoint."
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Supermodel Gisele Bundchen will strut out to the Brazilian hot "Girl from Ipanema"
The Brazilian stunner hardly disappointed. In fact, in a spectacle full of highlights and moving moments, Bundchen's walk, that seemed to go on and on and on to the bossa nova classic "The Girl From Impanema," was easily one of the most talked about events during the extravaganza. As she walked the more than 400 feet of runway social media exploded.
Even Bundchen's husband, New England quarterback Tom Brady, chimed in to heap praise upon his wife.
The opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016.
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Performers dance at the Metropolis: The Aviator during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Fireworks go off over the Maracana Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
A general view of the Maracanu00e3 Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Pita Nikolas Aufatofua of Tonga carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Brazilian marathoner Vanderlei de Lima lights the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016.
The Olympic flag is raised during the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 5, 2016.
Fireworks explode to form the Olympic Rings during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Members of the Brazil team take part during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Flag bearer Yane Marques of Brazil leads her Olympic Team during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Members of the Puerto Rico team take part during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Members of the Russia Olympic Team take part in the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Members of the USA delegation hug during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5, 2016.
Carmelo Anthony of the United States takes part during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Michael Phelps of the United States carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa carries his country's flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug.5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Flag bearer Sheikh Ali Al-Thani of Qatar lead his team during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Andy Murray of Great Britain carries the flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Timo Boll of Germany carries his country's flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Flag bearer Sheng Lei of the People's Republic of China leads his team during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Members of the Canada team take part in the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Members of the Burundi delegation enter the stadium during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5, 2016.
Luis Scola of Argentina carries his country's flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Entertainers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This picture shows an overview during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5, 2016.
Fireworks explode on the stadium roof during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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A dancer performs A Simple Idea that Helps A Lot segment during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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The performance paying homage to Brazilian culture and history during the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 5, 2016.
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Dancers peform the Pop: Tropical Nation segment during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Performers take part in the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Dancers perform during the Tropical Nation segment of the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dancers perfrom during the Geometrization segment of the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A general view during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dancers perform during the Favela Voices segement of Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen walks as The Girl From Ipanema plays during the Bossa segment during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A performer dances during the Pop: Empowerment segment during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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During the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Dancers perform during the Geometrization segment of the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This picture shows an overview during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5, 2016.
Performers dance during the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This picture shows an overview during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5, 2016.
The Brazil flag is raised during a performance at the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fireworks ignite over the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5, 2016, at the start of the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The moment was of special significance for Bundchen because she was aware of how much criticism her native country had received in the weeks and months leading up to the event.
"You know everyone was saying, 'Brazil cannot make it. It can be terrible. The Olympics in Brazil are going to be a disaster' and I feel like it was the opposite," she said. "And I feel like, not because I'm Brazilian but quite frankly, I feel like it was the most beautiful show. It showed so much heart, so much authenticity, so much of what Brazil was about."
