Sirenas: the red and black mermaids of synchronized swimming
Discover the routine of twin athletes Gabi and Dani Figueiredo, which combines discipline, entrepreneurship and lots of training.
By Raiana Monteiro - in
Young people are increasingly venturing into the art of entrepreneurship. Although the term "entrepreneurship" lacks a precise definition, it is directly related to the process of creating new ideas and capitalizing on them to launch a successful company. The recipe seems simple, but in Brazil's competitive society, rife with crises, investment risks, and uncertainty on all sides, betting on an idea can have more downsides than upsides. But why not take a chance?
It was with this mindset that twin sisters Daniella and Gabriella Figueiredo, along with their synchronized swimming teammates from Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, decided to start their own business. About three years ago, the girls, born in Belém, Pará, and now based in Rio de Janeiro, realized that being constantly underwater, training six days a week, could be more financially beneficial than the more than 10 Brazilian titles they had won in the sport. In 2014, they created the aquatic performance group Sirenas, Spanish for "mermaids."
"We always had the idea of creating a water show group, because we were always called to perform in different places, but no one ever got involved. Until one day we started talking about it, we thought of the name, we created social media pages and it ended up taking off," says Daniella.
In addition to the possibility of generating income through the sport they represented at Flamengo, the girls also saw an opportunity to promote the sport more widely in the country, as Gabriella explains.
"The Sirenas were born from a wonderful idea we've always nurtured with our swimming teammates. We wanted to bring our sport to people in a different way, in a freer and more spontaneous way than in competitions. Since in competitions we have a music time limit, we can't overdo the makeup or costumes. We also created the group to promote our sport, bringing more and more girls to practice synchronized swimming," she said.
The group is made up of seven young women under 30, some of them professional models, who have been called up to the Brazilian synchronized swimming team in international competitions. Besides the twins, the group includes athletes Aline Vieira, Camila Ururahy, Giovanna Bueno, Maria Eduarda Werneck, Maria Eduarda Wolf, and the club's coach, Roberta Perillier, who works for Sirenas as a choreographer. The Sirenas also perform somersaults, underwater somersaults, stretch their legs where you'd normally strain a muscle, apply gelatin to their hair to keep it perfectly straight, and maintain their shape with dietary restrictions and intense physical training. And they do all this with makeup on their faces, wide smiles, and the feeling that no discomfort is happening underwater.
In addition to all these specificities, Daniella and Gabriella studied law together, of course, at Estácio, a partnership between the university and the club. They graduated in 2016 and even interned there. An inseparable life, with their best friend by their side.
"We've always done everything together. We went to school together, we always trained together, then we went to college together, and we even did internships at the same place. So I always think it's good to have her company; it's like a friend I always enjoy being around," says Dani. And her sister adds.
"Working with my sister makes everything easier. I think the fact that she's tougher than me helps a lot. It seems like we complete each other; she's always pushing me and encouraging me, and that's really good for my professional life," Gabi concludes.
The fact that they are professional athletes and studied at Estácio also brought an additional benefit to the ("mermaids") sisters from Belém, Pará: the girls were part of the "Estácio no Esporte" project. According to the institution's official website, "the project goes far beyond being a pillar of corporate social responsibility. Estácio no Esporte aims to guide Estácio's positioning in the national sports scene in a structured way."
Currently, more than 100 athletes are supported through sponsorship or scholarships.
Regarding the fact that they are athletes, lawyers, models and entrepreneurs, the girls conclude.
"Sometimes it's really hard to juggle everything. I pray for more than 24 hours in a day (laughs). But I think that when you do what you love, nothing becomes a sacrifice. For me, being an athlete is very pleasurable, as is working with the Sirenas. And law is now becoming my first plan, because an athlete's career eventually comes to an end and we have to prepare for the future," says Gabriella. Her twin sister's response, like the belief that siblings in these conditions share thoughts, was almost identical.
"Being an athlete, entrepreneur, and lawyer is almost an impossible mission. I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day, so I'd have time to do everything. But I think the secret is being responsible and focused on my goals. So far, it's working out. It's quite tiring, but doing what I love is very enjoyable," explains Daniella.
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).
It was with this mindset that twin sisters Daniella and Gabriella Figueiredo, along with their synchronized swimming teammates from Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, decided to start their own business. About three years ago, the girls, born in Belém, Pará, and now based in Rio de Janeiro, realized that being constantly underwater, training six days a week, could be more financially beneficial than the more than 10 Brazilian titles they had won in the sport. In 2014, they created the aquatic performance group Sirenas, Spanish for "mermaids."
"We always had the idea of creating a water show group, because we were always called to perform in different places, but no one ever got involved. Until one day we started talking about it, we thought of the name, we created social media pages and it ended up taking off," says Daniella.
In addition to the possibility of generating income through the sport they represented at Flamengo, the girls also saw an opportunity to promote the sport more widely in the country, as Gabriella explains.
"The Sirenas were born from a wonderful idea we've always nurtured with our swimming teammates. We wanted to bring our sport to people in a different way, in a freer and more spontaneous way than in competitions. Since in competitions we have a music time limit, we can't overdo the makeup or costumes. We also created the group to promote our sport, bringing more and more girls to practice synchronized swimming," she said.
The group is made up of seven young women under 30, some of them professional models, who have been called up to the Brazilian synchronized swimming team in international competitions. Besides the twins, the group includes athletes Aline Vieira, Camila Ururahy, Giovanna Bueno, Maria Eduarda Werneck, Maria Eduarda Wolf, and the club's coach, Roberta Perillier, who works for Sirenas as a choreographer. The Sirenas also perform somersaults, underwater somersaults, stretch their legs where you'd normally strain a muscle, apply gelatin to their hair to keep it perfectly straight, and maintain their shape with dietary restrictions and intense physical training. And they do all this with makeup on their faces, wide smiles, and the feeling that no discomfort is happening underwater.
In addition to all these specificities, Daniella and Gabriella studied law together, of course, at Estácio, a partnership between the university and the club. They graduated in 2016 and even interned there. An inseparable life, with their best friend by their side."We've always done everything together. We went to school together, we always trained together, then we went to college together, and we even did internships at the same place. So I always think it's good to have her company; it's like a friend I always enjoy being around," says Dani. And her sister adds.
"Working with my sister makes everything easier. I think the fact that she's tougher than me helps a lot. It seems like we complete each other; she's always pushing me and encouraging me, and that's really good for my professional life," Gabi concludes.
The fact that they are professional athletes and studied at Estácio also brought an additional benefit to the ("mermaids") sisters from Belém, Pará: the girls were part of the "Estácio no Esporte" project. According to the institution's official website, "the project goes far beyond being a pillar of corporate social responsibility. Estácio no Esporte aims to guide Estácio's positioning in the national sports scene in a structured way."
Currently, more than 100 athletes are supported through sponsorship or scholarships.
Regarding the fact that they are athletes, lawyers, models and entrepreneurs, the girls conclude.
"Sometimes it's really hard to juggle everything. I pray for more than 24 hours in a day (laughs). But I think that when you do what you love, nothing becomes a sacrifice. For me, being an athlete is very pleasurable, as is working with the Sirenas. And law is now becoming my first plan, because an athlete's career eventually comes to an end and we have to prepare for the future," says Gabriella. Her twin sister's response, like the belief that siblings in these conditions share thoughts, was almost identical.
"Being an athlete, entrepreneur, and lawyer is almost an impossible mission. I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day, so I'd have time to do everything. But I think the secret is being responsible and focused on my goals. So far, it's working out. It's quite tiring, but doing what I love is very enjoyable," explains Daniella.
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).