Flamengo's artistic gymnastics team gained two reinforcements in 2017. Aiming for a new Olympic cycle in Tokyo 2020 and the development of Flamengo's youth athletes, the club hired coaches Ângelo Sabino and João Carlos to join the professional squad that oversees daily training at the Cláudio Coutinho gymnasium. Ângelo arrived to lead the Youth, Adult, and Children's final teams, in addition to being the technical manager for all youth categories. João Carlos joined to lead the Pre-Children's and Juniors' practices, and assist in the Children's, Youth, and Adult categories. Ângelo has his sights set on 2017.

 

"2017 will be a year of recovery for the athletes who were already at the club, as we had some technical changes at the end of last year and this affected the planning a bit, but nothing that can't be restructured. For the younger athletes, work will be normal," says the coach.

 

His gym teammate, João Carlos, has an extra incentive to be at Mais Querido, in addition to the professional challenge.

 

"I wanted to be a coach after watching Jade at the 2007 Pan American Games, here in Rio de Janeiro. She was always a motivation, and today, seeing her support my work is very gratifying. In 2007, she boosted her career with the Pan American Games. She gained many fans and certainly impacted a generation that watched her there. I was one of them. Now we continue to fight to develop a future generation as good as Flávia, Rebeca, and Jade," declares the coach.

 

João Carlos returns to the club after a one-year hiatus. Before that, between 2014 and 2015, he interned at Rubro-Negro. He says this prior experience was crucial to his development.

 

"I officially started at Flamengo in 2014, where I completed a two-year internship. I stayed at Fla until the end of 2015, when we were Brazilian champions in the Pre-Kids category and also had good individual results in the Kids category. My professional experience was all formed here, where I had the opportunity to work with the best coaches, such as Daniela Antunes, Ângelo Sabino, Francisco Porath (then the club's coach). My development definitely came from there," he recalls. Regarding his challenges for 2017, the coach is objective.

 

"In the Pre-Kids category, the target competition is the Brazilian Championship, which will take place this year in September. Preparation is done so that the athletes are at their peak during this period, aiming primarily for the team title. This year, we have a team where the majority are entering the category, meaning they have never competed before. It will be a challenge for everyone, but we are preparing well for it," she concludes.

The Flamengo Regatas Club's artistic gymnastics teams receive funding from their sponsors—AmBev, Rede D'or, IRB Brasil RE, CSN, Brasil Plural, and EY—via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR), as well as support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) through the decentralization of resources from the Pelé Law. The Flamengo Guardian Angel Project, a personal tax transfer, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved Club.