The Tokyo Olympics haven't even ended yet, and Flamengo is already planning for the next season. Flamengo's artistic swimming team has formed a new duo with their sights set on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Maria Clara Lobo and Laura Miccuci, both with impressive results on the floor, have decided to join forces with the mission of putting Flamengo and Brazil back on top.

Maria Clara Lobo has represented the club's colors for over a decade and believes in the success of the new partnership.

"In 2016, we were Brazilian Junior champions, and I think our journey, although interrupted for a while, began there. We have a good rapport, and everything is set to be a great success. It will be a long road, but we both have a clear and common goal: Paris 2024," she stated.

Laura Miccuci, who has been with Flamengo for seven years, joins forces with her new partner and has already revealed the first objective of the new duo this year.

"We're very excited and focused. We've already started training and will dedicate ourselves fully to winning the gold medal in the Brazilian Championship with Flamengo," said Laura, referring to the national competition taking place in December.

The idea behind the two athletes' union has a first and last name: Roberta Perillier. The club's artistic sports coordinator decided to use her nearly 20 years of experience with the Brazilian National Team and will also be the technical coordinator for the new Olympic duo, which will be coached by Jessica Noutel.

"Both athletes have achieved impressive results individually, so why not combine these two talents? We're starting a new project that has brought me back to the poolside with Jéssica. We want to be that 'fantastic four.' Our first goal, besides the Brazilian Championship, is to become a duo for the Brazilian National Team," he stated.

"We have a new proposal: studying duets worldwide. Creating new and different choreographies. The longer they train together and repeat these choreographies, the better they will become and reach a level of excellence," Perillier concluded.

Jéssica Noutel, 28, was part of the red-black artistic swimming team two years ago and left the pool to lead the new partnership out of the water.

"It's a huge challenge for me, but I believe I have enough experience to surpass both of them. They are both very technical athletes with excellent body language. We will work tirelessly to achieve results," he assured.

The artistic swimming teams of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rely on resources from their sponsors – Banco Bonsucesso, Furnas, Estácio, LafargeHolcim/Cimento Mauá, EY – via the Federal Incentive Law/Ministry of Sports (IR), in addition to support from the Brazilian Confederation of Clubs (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources originating from the Pelé Law.