Brazil will have six Flamengo gymnasts at the 43rd World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which will be held from October 7th to 17th in Tokyo, Japan. Diego Hypolito, Sérgio Sasaki, and Petrix Barbosa represent Flamengo on the men's team, accompanied by coach Renato Araújo. On the women's team, Jade Barbosa, Daniele Hypolito, and Priscila Cobello, under the command of coach Ricardo Pereira, will be the gymnasts from Gávea. The athletes departed last Sunday (September 18.09th) and will undergo an acclimatization period on Japanese soil.

\

This year's World Championships are a qualifier for the 2012 Olympics in London, and therefore bring greater nervousness even for those accustomed to competition, like Daniele Hypolito, who this year marks 10 years since her first medal in the competition, a first for Brazil at the time. The gymnast, however, believes that the maturity of the Brazilian team will be crucial to securing a spot.

\

"We can't hide our excitement, but we have to use our experience to our advantage. This year the team is more mature, our youngest athlete is 18, and most of them are used to competing in international events, and that's excellent," said Daniele, who is heading to her fourth Olympics.

\

For the men's team, the challenge is even greater. Brazil has never participated in the Olympics as a team, and this year their dream has a good chance of becoming a reality. To achieve this, the country relies on new talents in the sport, such as the red-and-blacks Sérgio Sasaki and Petrix Barbosa, the youngest members of the team at 19.

\

"I may be young, but I feel ready to help Brazil secure this spot. We know it's going to be very difficult, but we'll fight and show everything we've trained for over the years. Every athlete dreams of competing in the Olympics, and it's no different for me. I'll give my best in Japan," Sasaki revealed.

\

After the World Cup, both teams, men's and women's, will head to Mexico, where they will compete in the Pan American Games in Guadalajara.