Gisele Bundchen almost cried before her appearance at the Olympic Games opening ceremony.
The 36-year-old supermodel walked the runway during the prestigious event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday (05.08.16) and her emotions nearly got the better of her before she took to the stage in her home country.
She told ‘Access Hollywood’: "Believe me, I was very emotional – I was really breathing very deeply not to cry.
"Imagine if I walked on the runway crying!
"My country, I feel, it’s about happiness and joy. The Brazilian people are so welcoming and loving, and I can’t walk crying – what kind of representation is that?! So I just tried to relax as much as I could."
Gisele was incredibly "proud" to be involved and represent her country at the ceremony.
She said: "I was just so proud of being there. I was proud for Brazil, I was proud for our people.
"I mean, so many different names, so many people who have worked so hard to make such a beautiful celebration. I really think Brazilians, we have this simplicity about us, it’s so beautiful because it showed."
And Gisele – who has children Benjamin, five, and Vivian, three, with husband Tom Brady – thinks organisers did a "wonderful job" with the event as it perfectly reflected the host nation.
She added: "I think they did such a wonderful job in showing Brazil’s history and essence and all the different colours and Brazil’s music.
"The most beautiful thing about Brazil that I always find that is so unlike any other place I’ve been in the world is the diversity of its people. … It’s so special and I think they did such a wonderful job showing that. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it."
Gisele Bundchen’s Olympics emotion
