Two days before Rio 2016, Maria Clara Lobo and Lorena Molinos train at Maria Lenk
Red-blacks represent Flamengo in the Olympic synchronized swimming team
By Isabela Abirached and Raiana Monteiro - CBDA - in
With two days to go before the start of the Olympic Games, the red-and-black members of the Brazilian synchronized swimming team, Maria Clara Lobo and Lorena Molinos, are taking advantage of the time before their debut on August 18th to train hard at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Park, already familiar to the girls, who are the hosts. On the coaching staff, the red-and-blacks Carlos Alexandre Assis and Eduardo Calçada are adding to the Flamengo squad.
Before the technical team event, at 11 a.m. on the 18th, the duet will be the national team's first event, on the 14th, also at 11 a.m., but without Flamengo representatives. Maria Clara and Lorena will swim the theme "Bikers" alongside their teammates.
"Synchronized swimming only begins to polish itself very close to the competitions. Now we're fine-tuning the final details. We're focusing more on the details of the hands, facial expressions matching the music, than the overall," analyzed Maria Clara, the youngest member of the team. The athlete also spoke about the feeling of already being in the Olympic Village.
"It's incredible. This Olympic atmosphere that surrounds us brings an indescribable feeling. It's beautiful to see all the athletes who have already earned a place here and now continue to fight for their dream, to see that everyone is in the same boat. It's very exciting to be part of this story," he added.
Historic milestone for the sport
This will be the first time that Brazil will compete in the team event, so the Rio 2016 Games mark the Olympic debut of all the athletes on the team, with the exception of Lara Teixeira, who participated in the Games in 2008, in Beijing, and 2012, in London.
The synchronized swimming teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – Banco Bonsucesso, Furnas, Estácio, LafargeHolcim/Cimento Mauá, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR). The renovation of the Gávea Olympic pool is supported by investments from Lafarge and Ambev via the State Sports Incentive Law/State Secretariat of Sports, Leisure and Youth (ICMS), in addition to funds from the Agnelo Piva Law/Brazilian Confederation of Clubs (CBC).
Before the technical team event, at 11 a.m. on the 18th, the duet will be the national team's first event, on the 14th, also at 11 a.m., but without Flamengo representatives. Maria Clara and Lorena will swim the theme "Bikers" alongside their teammates.
"Synchronized swimming only begins to polish itself very close to the competitions. Now we're fine-tuning the final details. We're focusing more on the details of the hands, facial expressions matching the music, than the overall," analyzed Maria Clara, the youngest member of the team. The athlete also spoke about the feeling of already being in the Olympic Village.
"It's incredible. This Olympic atmosphere that surrounds us brings an indescribable feeling. It's beautiful to see all the athletes who have already earned a place here and now continue to fight for their dream, to see that everyone is in the same boat. It's very exciting to be part of this story," he added.
Historic milestone for the sport
This will be the first time that Brazil will compete in the team event, so the Rio 2016 Games mark the Olympic debut of all the athletes on the team, with the exception of Lara Teixeira, who participated in the Games in 2008, in Beijing, and 2012, in London.
The synchronized swimming teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo receive funding from their sponsors – Banco Bonsucesso, Furnas, Estácio, LafargeHolcim/Cimento Mauá, and EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR). The renovation of the Gávea Olympic pool is supported by investments from Lafarge and Ambev via the State Sports Incentive Law/State Secretariat of Sports, Leisure and Youth (ICMS), in addition to funds from the Agnelo Piva Law/Brazilian Confederation of Clubs (CBC).