Flamengo renews contracts of artistic gymnastics stars
Flavia Saraiva, Lorrane dos Santos and Rebeca Andrade stay for another season at Gávea
By Roberta Pinto - inThree of Brazil's top gymnasts remain with Flamengo. The club renewed the contracts of Flavia Saraiva, Rebeca Andrade, and Lorrane dos Santos for another season. These athletes, led by technical coordinator Georgette Vidor, are the foundation of the permanent Brazilian National Team. Flavia Saraiva has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, and the other two are still fighting for a spot.
Flavinha, a member of the club since 2016, is completing 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. Wearing the Mantle is a source of pride and, at the same time, a huge burden. Wherever you go, people recognize you, cheer, and cheer you on. It's incredible visibility. I have a few goals this year. Before thinking about a medal, I have to think about qualifying for the finals. Only after that can I dream of the podium. My biggest dream is to see my friends qualify. I hope to have at least one of them there by my side," she said.
Rebeca Andrade and Lorrane dos Santos will compete in the Pan American Championships in May in the United States. A product of the club's youth academy, Lorrane spent four years away from the club before returning in 2017. She celebrated the agreement with the club and celebrated the peace of mind the renewal provides for her work.
"It's an honor to have my contract renewed... Flamengo is my favorite club. Unfortunately, I had to be away for a while, but being here is my joy. I intend to never leave again and I want to end my career wearing the Manto. I'm very happy," he said.
Rebeca echoes this sentiment, also pleased with her renewal. The four-time World Cup gold medalist will be entering her tenth season at Gávea. She emphasized the fact that she knows everyone at the club, which makes her feel at home.
"It's really good. I've been here since I was 12 years old. Everyone knows me and treats me really well. I really enjoy being at Flamengo and I always try to do my best," he 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 – AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR), in addition to support from the Brazilian Committee of Clubs (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources originating from the Pelé Law.