Flavia Saraiva, Jade Barbosa and Lorrane Oliveira stay for another season at the club
Flamengo renews contract with artistic gymnastics stars
By Roberta Pinto - inAfter renewing Rebeca Andrade's contract, Flamengo has signed three more Brazilian artistic gymnastics stars to continue their contracts. Flavia Saraiva, Jade Barbosa, and Lorrane Oliveira will remain at Gávea for another season. These athletes, led by technical coordinator Georgette Vidor, are the foundation of the permanent Brazilian national team.
Having joined the club since 2016, Flavinha begins another Olympic cycle at Gávea. She celebrated her renewal and spoke about the responsibility of representing the "Mais Querido" (Most Beloved).
"I'm very happy to be renewing my contract with the club for another year. This is my sixth season here. Representing the largest fan base in Brazil is both a source of pride and a huge burden. Wherever you go, people recognize you, cheer you on, and support you. I'm now 100% recovered from my injury and I'm looking forward to achieving good results for the club and the Brazilian national team," she said.
A product of the club's youth academy, Lorrane spent four years away and returned in 2017. She celebrated the agreement with the club and celebrated the peace of mind that the renewal provides for her work.
"It's an honor to have my contract renewed... Flamengo is my favorite club. I intend to never leave and I want to end my career wearing the Manto. I'm very happy," said the athlete, who is still recovering from Covid.
Jade Barbosa echoes this sentiment. At 30, Jade Barbosa is the most experienced of the athletes. The gymnast has been with the club since 1997.
"I've been at Flamengo since 1997. I think it's a lifetime. We're one big family. We have good times and bad, all kinds of emotions. I think, for an Olympic athlete, it's great and gives you peace of mind to compete. Flamengo has always invested in Olympic sports," said the gymnast.
"This year will be about adapting to the new gymnastics code, which changes with each Olympics. We have to learn the new moves and adapt. Furthermore, we have many girls moving up a category, and I'm very happy to be part of this work that is reaping its rewards," she added.
Vice President of Olympic Sports, Guilherme Kroll, commented on the renewals.
"Flamengo's artistic gymnastics is intertwined with artistic gymnastics in Brazil. We are a major source of talent for the sport. Flamengo has become a self-sustaining club with the projects we support. We will strive for more podiums and more medals with great budgetary responsibility," the director assured.
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.