With talent coursing through her veins, Laura Biondo is ready to showcase her skills at the 2023 Red Bull Street Style Championships.
On December 7, in Brussels, Belgium, the Venezuelan sensation will put it all on the line at an event that annually captures the imagination of fans around the globe. And with the 34-year-old having had so much experience on the big stage, freestyle enthusiasts know they’re in for a treat.
Blessed with undeniable flare and a natural gift for juggling the ball, the icon regularly leaves spectators speechless with an array of tricks that have led to her breaking a whopping 15 Guinness World Records.
Laura Biondo is rightfully in the Guinness World Records Hall of Fame
Her incredible tally has cemented her status as the most decorated record-breaker in her country’s history. From most ‘Hop the World football control tricks’ in one minute (Female) – 48, to most ‘Sit-down football crossovers’ in 30 seconds (female) – 62, the pioneer would have every right to let her ego get the better of her, but in reality, she remains as humble as ever, hoping her achievements inspire young girls around the world to try the sport for themselves.
In an exclusive interview with Sporf, she beamed: “I think I’d call it fate. I started with one back in 2011. I was invited to a TV show in Italy, which is dedicated to people breaking records, and I’ve built a great relationship with the Guinness World Records team. They’re truly amazing and have supported me throughout my career, inviting me to do lots of Guinness World Records.
“Fast forward 12 years, and I have 15. It’s been a blessing that they’ve always reached out to me to do the new records. I’m really grateful for it because it’s a way of smashing barriers that other girls can then break because if they see that I can do it, they will do it too.”
Laura Biondo has had an incredible road to The 2023 Red Bull Street Style Championships
Born in Venezuela, the gifted athlete moved to the US at the age of 10, where she discovered football for the first time. Instantly hooked by ‘The Beautiful Game’, she dedicated her life to the craft, eventually making it as a professional in the Italian Major League. But it wasn’t until she sustained an injury that she stumbled across the sport that would change her life forever — freestyle.
She explained: “As I was recovering, I discovered freestyle through my brother, who would watch famous Ronaldinho Joga Bonito commercials, and then fate, life, God, whatever you want to call it, for me, it is God, I met a freestyler where my brother was doing his pre-season. He introduced me to more freestylers, and that’s how freestyle became my life.”
Showcasing her skills around the planet, Biondo developed a huge reputation, even capturing the attention of Cirque du Soleil, who subsequently secured her services for their Luzia show, which celebrated Mexican culture through a breathtaking extravaganza.
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She reminisced: “It was an amazing experience. I have to say that it really taught me so much in terms of being an artist and an athlete and on a personal level. Overall, I spent four years with them. I did the whole creation of the show, and it was a rewarding experience where I got to take freestyle to different cities, and people got to see what this sport is. So, it was definitely a lot of fun.”
Laura Biondo promises to teach me the Clipper at the 2023 Red Bul Street Style Championships
Like most others, I couldn’t even fathom operating at a skill level high enough to pull off Biondo’s favourite trick — the Clipper. However, in a testament to her generosity, she’s promised to show me the move that’s captured the imagination of purists from every corner of the map.
She laughed: “It is my favourite trick. The Clipper is all about body position and tempo. When we meet, I’ll teach you. I’ll give you the tips. It’s really about understanding how to move your body so that you can place your foot straight under the ball because you want the ball to go up and down and then using that momentum where you cushion the ball and bring it back up. So it’s knowing how to square yourself up.”
Having done so many amazing things throughout her remarkable career, Biondo can’t wait for the next chapter to unfold. And when she walks out on stage in front of a raucous crowd at the 2023 Red Bull Street Style Championships, she’ll prove exactly why she belongs at the pinnacle of the sport.
She concluded: “I hope fans enjoy seeing what we’re doing on stage. It’s going to be hard to understand what we’re doing with our bodies. It’s quite amazing. The fans should guide themselves with their emotions and the vibes that they feel. The atmosphere is going to be amazing. There’s always a great amount of people there that really push you. So it’s really all about the vibe, really enjoy the vibe.”
To follow Laura’s progress and for more information on the Red Bull Street Style event, which takes place on Thursday 7th of December, visit www.redbullstreetstyle.com/.
Featured Image Credit: Guinness World Records