Not even the intense heat at Flamengo's gym or the natural fatigue of returning to training could wipe the smile from Diego Hypolito's face this Monday. His desire to get back into his routine was so strong that he managed to take a break from gymnastics during his vacation. He got in his car, hit the road, and drove through cities in the South and Southeast regions, but ended up having to do some backflips in the most unusual places.

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"Gymnastics is my life. I can't help but think about it, even on vacation, and there's already a competition in March. I think it's important to forget a bit, as Cesar Cielo says, but I can't. Back in Florianópolis, there was a trampoline in the ocean, set up on a buoy. I had to go. You jumped and fell into the water. Then, in São Paulo, they found us in the audience at a country music show and invited us to come on stage. I wasn't going to do a somersault, but everyone asked, and I did it. I even had to jump in a nightclub," laughs Diego, who spent his time off with several teammates and also met up with friends like Cielo, Carol Gattaz, and Bruninho on New Year's Eve.

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But he plans to take the biggest leap this year. He wants to win the world title and also the fifth World Cup Grand Final. He wants to include the 'Hypolito 3' in the International Federation's code of points, but then he doesn't intend to use it in the heats. He wants to stay at the top of the floor exercise and be among the top in vaulting. To achieve this, he managed to control his weight and decided to switch from Japanese training to forcing himself to a more rigorous routine.
 
"It worked out, it was the best year of my career, but I want to go back to having rules, to being forced to wake up at 6:30 a.m., to coming home super tired after training. I want to win my third world championship, top the rankings, and be able to do all six apparatuses again. I'm happy because today I was able to train on all of them," he said.

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His sister, Daniele Hypolito, also had reason to celebrate. After a 2009 marked by consecutive injuries and tears, she's already pleased to start the season pain-free.

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"All I want for 2010 is to compete well. The results will be a consequence of the work. Last year was very difficult for me. The worst year of my entire career because I couldn't compete. I only did it three times throughout the season. Last season, at the Brazilian Championships, I competed on three apparatuses even without medical clearance. Now I'm at zero."

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Jade Barbosa too. The serious injury to her right wrist, which kept her out of competitions for 15 months, has given her a break. Without rushing or pressure, she can now perform movements that previously bothered her and is working to regain her former form.

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"I don't feel any pain anymore, but I can't overdo it. My goal is to get back to doing the gymnastics I did before and compete in the World Cup and the World Championships. I managed to graduate from high school, but I don't think I'll study this year so I can fully dedicate myself to gymnastics. Everyone knows how difficult my recovery is, so they're not expecting much. And I think that's a good thing."

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On the first day of training, the gymnasts received a visit from the club's president, Patrícia Amorim. They are confident that her leadership will benefit Olympic sports in Gávea.
 
"What's past is past. The important thing is that she has knowledge and a clear sporting vision, having been a high-level athlete. Her children and husband live at the headquarters. So does she. What Flamengo needed was people to bring order to the house. And Patrícia surrounded herself with people who understand Olympic sports," Diego praised.