Representing Flamengo and the Brazilian National Team in the mixed synchronized swimming duet, Renan Alcântara and Giovana Stephan are in the final stretch of training for the World Championships in the sport, which will be held in Hungary.

Looking ahead to the competition, Giovana explained how preparations are progressing. "We have high goals for the World Championships in Budapest. It will be the second time the mixed duet event is featured, the sport's newest category, but one that is growing and gaining ground," she said.

"We are training from Monday to Saturday, from 7 am to 13 pm, at the Time Brasil Training Center, in Maria Lenk. We will participate in a preparatory competition from April 13 to 17 in Chile together with the Brazilian women's duet and the Flamengo children's duet. There we will present our free routine choreography with some modifications of the same theme that we were Brazilian champions with Flamengo last year ("Romeo and Juliet"). We are preparing a new technical routine choreography for the world championship, with a theme from the ballet Sleeping Beauty," explained the athlete.

For Renan, this is a time of accomplishment: "I'm very happy to be part of the mixed duet with Gi. Swimming has always been a dream of mine and has always been a big part of my life. Knowing that in four months I'll be representing my country at the World Championships is priceless. Gi and I were South American champions last year in Paraguay, and she has helped me a lot," he celebrated.

The athlete also commented on the World Cup, which begins at the end of April: "The mixed duet event this year will be huge. I believe there will be around 20 duets and everyone's goal is to join forces to put the event in the Olympics in 2020. That's our biggest dream."

The two are already training for the World Championships in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, which will take place from April 14th to 30th. The mixed duet event will conclude the competition.

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.