Flamengo represented in the next big challenges of artistic gymnastics

Flamengo will be present at two of the most important international artistic gymnastics events this fall: the World Cup in Koper, Slovenia, and the World Championships in October. The competitions will feature Flamengo's Flávia Saraiva and Júlia Coutinho, under the coaching of Walmy Júnior.

For Flavia Saraiva, this season marks her return to international competition after the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. On that occasion, she was part of the team that won the historic bronze medal in the team event—the first Olympic medal for Brazilian women's gymnastics. Having recovered from injury, the athlete has shown improvement in the national championships, especially with solid performances in the all-around and on the balance beam.

On the other hand, young Júlia Coutinho, just 15 years old, is experiencing a special moment. At the World Cup stage in Koper, she shone, winning gold on the floor exercise with a score of 13,100. At the Brazilian Championships, she secured silver on the floor exercise, and at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy, she finished 5th on the floor exercise in her debut in international adult competitions.

Flavinha highlighted her happiness at returning to the international stage and being able to share the stage with her teammate:

"I'm very happy to have been called to train and compete. It's a new experience, especially being back in competition alongside the younger athletes. Representing Brazil and Flamengo is very special. This may be my first international competition with Júlia, which makes me even more excited. I know her talent and want to help in any way I can."

Júlia commented on her expectations for the competition:

"I have high expectations for this World Cup. It will be my second World Cup appearance, and I'm excited about a good Brazilian Championship. I hope everything goes well."

Coach Walmy Júnior highlighted the importance of recent results and explained the strategy for the upcoming matches:

"The Brazilian Championship was a qualifier for these competitions, so a good performance was crucial. Júlia performed well, did her part, and that earned her a spot, along with the evaluations throughout the year. Now, the expectation is to perform the routines we worked on in the gym, without putting pressure on the result. A medal is a consequence. Our focus is to do our best within what we trained."

Walmy also made a point of highlighting the challenge of the technical level:

"Each World Cup has a different athlete profile. Because it's so close to the World Cup, we know the level will be higher. The first goal is to reach the final. Then, we'll get the series right and see how far we can go."

With Flavia's experience, Júlia's rise, and the work of the coaching staff, Flamengo reaffirms its strength in developing talent and its relevance to Brazilian gymnastics.