From the Borel rooftop to Flamengo. That was the leap that 12-year-old Ana Luisa Batista dos Anjos made this Tuesday (18.01). The girl who trained in the sun, on the rooftop of her house, in Morro do Borel, in Tijuca, north of Rio, was at the Claudio Coutinho gym, in Gávea, realizing a dream.

Accompanied by her parents, the girl was welcomed by the entire artistic gymnastics coaching staff and trained alongside Olympic champion Rebeca Andrade and her teammates Flavia Saraiva, Jade Barbosa, and Lorrane Oliveira. Bruno Chateaubriand, president of the Rio de Janeiro Gymnastics Federation, and Gutemberg Fonseca, Secretary of Sports for the State of Rio de Janeiro, were also present.

Flamengo has offered Ana Luisa a scholarship to the Sports School. She will undergo a trial period that could last three to six months.

"In no Olympic sport is there a one-day test. She will spend some time training with us so we can get a clear idea of ​​her condition," explained Vice President of Olympic Sports Guilherme Kroll.

"Today was a dream come true. Ana Luisa practiced what she loves most alongside the best in the world. As far as we're concerned, her dream will never be thwarted. Flamengo's mission is to transform talent into great champions," Kroll added, noting that the red-and-black team has Brazilian champions from Maré, such as Hellen Silva and Sophia Cruz, from Pavão-Pavãozinho.

At the end of training, Ana Luisa received an official club shirt, a warm hug from the Brazilian national team athletes and even  a keychain from the Tokyo Olympic Games, by Rebeca Andrade.

"I'm so happy. It was an incredible experience. Being with everyone was really cool. They're my role models, and I want to be as good as them," said Ana Luisa, who has been practicing gymnastics since she was nine years old.

Encouraged by her mother, Cristiane Batista, who studied ballet in her youth, Ana Luisa began dancing at age 5 and, at age 9, she moved on to rhythmic gymnastics. There, she realized that artistic gymnastics was her true path, and in 2021, at age 11, she decided to pursue this sport. 

"We were delighted to receive Flamengo's invitation. Every athlete dreams of training at Brazil's biggest club," says the mother.

Before leaving, the  The girl left a message, assuring that she will pursue her dream.

“My biggest dream is to be a Brazilian champion and be part of the national team.  I want to travel the world, bringing home lots of medals. And compete in the Olympics, of course.”  reveals the promise of the sport.

The artistic gymnastics teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – Rede D'or, Coperalcool, Hoteis.com – via the Federal Sports Incentive Law/Special Sports Secretariat (SEESP), in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources originating from the Pelé Law.