The main highlights of Brazilian artistic gymnastics began training for the 2013 season and the new Olympic cycle (2013 to 2016), at the Time Rio Training Center, in Barra da Tijuca, west of Rio. Since last Wednesday (23.01), the red-and-blacks Diego Hypolito, who is still recovering from an injury, Sergio Sasaki, Petrix Barbosa and Caio Sousa have been meeting with the other members of the Brazilian team for a training camp with the Japanese team, already looking ahead to the 2016 Olympic Games.

 

The Brazilian delegation combines experienced and younger gymnasts, preparing for a competition in Berlin, Germany, in March. The training camp, which runs until January 31st, will feature two daily training sessions during the week and one session on Saturdays, with Sundays off.

 

According to Leonardo Finco, coordinator of the Brazilian Olympic team, the training sessions with the Japanese team are aimed at fostering an exchange, which will be important for both teams. "The Japanese will come to Brazil to adapt to the host city of the next Olympics. They come with the base of the group being prepared for 2016, and this will be very interesting for us, as they have an excellent technical level and are quite advanced. We will learn from them," he emphasized.

 

In addition to the four red-blacks, the group represented by 11 gymnasts in total, also has the experience of coach Renato Araújo, from Flamengo and the national team, and physiotherapist Igor Letra.