Flamengo Regatta Club and Estácio de Sá University are working together to develop athletes in Brazil. In addition to its direct sponsorship of FlaBasquete, Estácio is providing Flamengo players from other Olympic sports with the opportunity to prepare for the future, when their careers in the gymnasium, pools, and courts are over.

Through partial and full scholarships, Estácio enables Mengão representatives to attend its various campuses, in addition to offering distance learning. Recently, the institution welcomed some of Flamengo's top gymnasts. Rebeca Andrade, Julie Kim Sinmon, Letícia Costa, Milena Theodoro, Isabelle Cruz, and Maria Cecília are the newest students. The girls now have to balance their studies with their training routines at Mais Querido, call-ups to the Brazilian national team, and national and international competitions.

 

"I'm in my second semester of my Business Administration degree. It's extremely important for athletes to understand that, like any other job, one day the sport comes to an end. In the meantime, we have to find a way to balance our studies with intense training, because tomorrow or the day after, we'll already be working on what we're determined to start after years as an athlete. To enter the job market, we'll need a degree and even a specialization, so we can't afford to miss out on opportunities like the one Estácio is offering us," comments Letícia.

 

For Cláudia Romano, Executive Director of Institutional Relations, Corporate Communications, Partnerships and Sustainability at Estácio, enrolling girls at the University goes far beyond graduation.

 

"Estácio believes in the development of sports through education and in the work Flamengo does in developing athletes. That's why the partnership has existed for years and is expected to continue, because at Estácio we understand that sports and education go hand in hand and have great power for social transformation," says the executive.

 

If the athlete's routine was already demanding, balancing it with studies requires even more dedication to the already demanding routine of the red-and-black gymnasts. However, Julie Kim doesn't hide her excitement about the new challenge.

 

"I'm in my first year of physical therapy, and I think it was a big step we took, as this will be our future profession. It's very important to understand that now we're not just focusing on gymnastics. We're getting to know a different 'world' beyond the gym. I've studied my entire life in schools that adapted to my training. Most of the time, we didn't go to school; school came to us. So, it's very different, and I'm really enjoying it," says the athlete. Regarding what she likes most about Estácio, she says:

 

"There are people of all ages there. It's great because the teacher doesn't keep on your back, telling you what you need to know, what you need to take notes on. In college, you know what's best for you. We become more independent," he concludes.

 

With the exception of Letícia, the entire red-black squad chose the Physiotherapy course to pursue in the coming years.