Stephan Steverink begins his term at the University of Kentucky and continues with Flamengo.
Flamengo athlete departs for the USA on August 16th to balance studies and training, while maintaining his sporting ties with the club.
By Leonardo Pimenta - in
Flamengo swimmer Stephan Steverink will take another important step in his sporting career. On August 16th, the athlete will travel to the United States, where he will begin his studies and training at the University of Kentucky, one of the country's leading universities for collegiate sports.
This initiative is part of the athlete's development plan for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle and is a partnership between Flamengo and the American institution. Even with the temporary change, Stephan remains an athlete for Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and will continue to represent the club in major national and international competitions.
Signed by Flamengo in 2021, Stephan established himself as one of the leading names in Brazilian swimming. During this period, he achieved significant results, such as the junior world title in the 400m freestyle in 2022, in addition to the silver medal in the 400m medley at the same competition.
In recent seasons, the swimmer has maintained a trajectory of constant improvement. In 2025, he was one of the highlights of the Maria Lenk Trophy, winning six medals, securing a qualifying time for the World Championships, and finishing the competition as the second most efficient athlete in the tournament. In 2026, he shone again, winning five medals—three gold and two silver—registering the best male technical index of the competition, and securing qualification for the Pan Pacific Championships.
Before heading to the United States, Stephan will continue training normally with Flamengo for the next few months. Even during his time at the University of Kentucky, the athlete will continue representing the club in important international events, such as the Pan-Pacific and South American Games in 2026, the Pan American Games in 2027, and the qualifying cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The partnership between Flamengo and the University of Kentucky reinforces the commitment to the development of high-performance athletes, offering swimmers a structure that combines academic and sporting excellence without interrupting their journey with the Sacred Mantle (Flamengo's jersey).
We continue together in another chapter of your journey towards the great challenges of world swimming.