Two years ago, Kelly Slater had already shown his appreciation for Flamengo. In 2009, he donned the sacred mantle and was photographed for a Brazilian publication. Back in Brazil to compete in the third stage of the World Tour, the elite of global surfing, the most successful surfer of all time welcomed the Flamengo Marketing Department team and received a new club jersey, personalized with his name and number 10, the same number of world titles he has won.

Kelly Slater walked into the lobby of his hotel in Rio de Janeiro and received the following news: he would, once again, be a major boost to the nation. Smiling, he thanked the crowd for the gift and posed with the cape.

The surfer will enter the sea in Rio de Janeiro starting this Friday (11.05), when the Rio stage of the WT begins.