Flamengo started with full force in the Maria Lenk Trophy, which began this Monday (21), at the Gávea pool. On the first day, two Flamengo athletes reached the podium with high-level performances. Gabrielle Assis won her first victory in the 100m breaststroke, while Stephan Steverink secured the silver medal in the 400m freestyle and, as a bonus, qualified for the World Championships.

With a superb time of 3:47, Stephan demonstrated why he's one of the brightest prospects in Brazilian swimming. After leaving the pool, he emphasized the importance of the fans' support and the feeling of competing at home:

"I just won a silver medal here in the 400m freestyle, here at the Maria Lenk Trophy. I qualified for the World Championships and had one of the best times of my life. I wanted to thank your fans. If you can, come watch here. We have more races to compete in until the end of the week and more Flamengo to shine here," he said.

Soon after, it was Gabrielle Assis' turn to lift the crowd by winning the 100m breaststroke with a career-best time. The swimmer, already crowned Brazilian champion in the 200m breaststroke, demonstrated confidence and power in the final stretch of the race to win gold—her first medal in this distance.

"The 100m breaststroke is an event that makes me a little more nervous because it's not something I'm good at. So, to win at home, my first time, with the best time of my life, I'm very happy. I just have to thank everyone who cheered me on," beamed Gabi, who is still aiming for podiums in the 50m and 200m breaststroke in the coming days.

“Let’s fight for more medals!” he added.

 The Maria Lenk Trophy competitions continue until Saturday (26), with free entry for the Nation. 

During the Maria Lenk Trophy 2025, the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo Swimming team relies on resources from its supporters Estácio and Instituto YDUQS, in addition to support from the Brazilian Club Committee (CBC) resulting from the decentralization of resources originating from the Pelé Law.