Training, renewal and hard work: a chat with Roberta Perillier, synchronized swimming coach
Check out the exclusive interview that the Brazilian champion coach gave to the Official Website of Mais Querido
By Isabel Oberg - in
The hard work being put into Flamengo's Olympic sports is increasingly evident. More and more athletes are joining the national teams in their respective sports and representing the club, and Brazil, around the world. In synchronized swimming, for example, Flamengo had nine athletes selected for the national team this year alone. Of these nine athletes, three compete in the adult category, three in the youth category, and three in the junior category, demonstrating the excellent work also being done in the club's youth categories. Roberta Perilier—who leads Flamengo's synchronized swimming teams and led the Clube da Gávea to another Brazilian Championship victory in 2016—had an exclusive chat with the club's official website and discussed the process of developing top athletes, renewing the sport's talent, and all the hard work being done in the Gávea pools. Check it out:
We've seen Rubro-Negro's girls constantly being called up to both the senior national team and the youth teams. How do you see this renewal process at the club?
I'm very happy with the renewal process at Flamengo. It took a long time, but it's starting to pay off. Today, finally, our 'pyramid' is starting to become more equal. Before, we had many adult athletes and few youth and children's athletes. Now we've almost equalized those numbers. I still have more people in the senior team, but there are already ten athletes in the other categories. Our Sports School already has a very high number of children's athletes, which is essential for us to improve the age range of our work.
And what about the training of new top athletes?
Our goal and focus is to prepare athletes for the Brazilian national team. We try to participate in all competitions, both state and national, always aiming for the tryouts at the end of the year. This year was a pleasant surprise, as we managed to place six athletes—three from the junior and three from the youth teams—on the national team.
Synchronized swimming is one of the Olympic sports still fighting for recognition in Brazil. Even though it's a standout sport, does the red-and-black sport also strive for visibility?
Flamengo's swimming team is a state and national benchmark. I believe we're the second-largest club in Rio de Janeiro with the most athletes. In terms of championships and quality, we're certainly the best. Overall, swimming needs greater visibility. General changes, such as in the rules, could help. Opening the competition to men, which began in 2015, gives the sport more exposure. It's a process, and we've begun it.
And 2017? Any specific goals that the sport wants to achieve?
The expectation for 2017 is to continue our hard work at the youth level and seek more titles for the Mais Querido. We are once again investing in the youth academy, especially the youth team. We intend to reach the podium and once again place our athletes on the Brazilian National Team.
The sport's first challenge in 2017 will be the Santiago Open in April. The "Mais Querido" (The Most Wanted) will compete with the children's duet, composed of Nicole Shinohara and Giovana Faria, current Brazilian champions, and Ana Clara Almeida, who will compete in the solo, also in the children's category.
The synchronized swimming teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo 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 Committee of Clubs (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro (Red-Black Guardian Angel Project), a tax transfer for individuals, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved Club.
We've seen Rubro-Negro's girls constantly being called up to both the senior national team and the youth teams. How do you see this renewal process at the club?
I'm very happy with the renewal process at Flamengo. It took a long time, but it's starting to pay off. Today, finally, our 'pyramid' is starting to become more equal. Before, we had many adult athletes and few youth and children's athletes. Now we've almost equalized those numbers. I still have more people in the senior team, but there are already ten athletes in the other categories. Our Sports School already has a very high number of children's athletes, which is essential for us to improve the age range of our work.
And what about the training of new top athletes?
Our goal and focus is to prepare athletes for the Brazilian national team. We try to participate in all competitions, both state and national, always aiming for the tryouts at the end of the year. This year was a pleasant surprise, as we managed to place six athletes—three from the junior and three from the youth teams—on the national team.
Synchronized swimming is one of the Olympic sports still fighting for recognition in Brazil. Even though it's a standout sport, does the red-and-black sport also strive for visibility?
Flamengo's swimming team is a state and national benchmark. I believe we're the second-largest club in Rio de Janeiro with the most athletes. In terms of championships and quality, we're certainly the best. Overall, swimming needs greater visibility. General changes, such as in the rules, could help. Opening the competition to men, which began in 2015, gives the sport more exposure. It's a process, and we've begun it.
And 2017? Any specific goals that the sport wants to achieve?
The expectation for 2017 is to continue our hard work at the youth level and seek more titles for the Mais Querido. We are once again investing in the youth academy, especially the youth team. We intend to reach the podium and once again place our athletes on the Brazilian National Team.
The sport's first challenge in 2017 will be the Santiago Open in April. The "Mais Querido" (The Most Wanted) will compete with the children's duet, composed of Nicole Shinohara and Giovana Faria, current Brazilian champions, and Ana Clara Almeida, who will compete in the solo, also in the children's category.
The synchronized swimming teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo 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 Committee of Clubs (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources generated by the Pelé Law. The Anjo da Guarda Rubro-Negro (Red-Black Guardian Angel Project), a tax transfer for individuals, benefits all Olympic sports of the Most Beloved Club.