Team

"It's competition that opens doors": Stephan Steverink highlights the importance of Maria Lenk

The main Brazilian swimming tournament will be held at the Fadel Fadel Aquatic Park, at Flamengo's headquarters, between April 21st and 26th

The tournament also marks a special moment for the red-black athletes, who compete at home, in a pool they know like few others.

16 Abr 2025 | 19:48 |

Between April 21 and 26, the Fadel Fadel Aquatic Park, at Flamengo's headquarters in Gávea, will host the main Brazilian swimming competition: the Maria Lenk Championship. The tournament brings together the best swimmers in the country and plays a fundamental role in the national calendar, serving as a qualifier for important international events during the season, such as the World Championship, the Pan-American Championship, the Pan-Junior Championship, the Junior World Championship and the South American tournaments.

Sthephan Steverink spoke about the competition

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Flamengo athlete and standout of the new generation of national swimming, Stephan Steverink reinforces the importance of the competition.

So this is the most important Brazilian competition

“The importance of the Maria Lenk Championship is that it is the biggest Brazilian championship we have in the year. It is usually the competition where we can qualify for international championships. So this is the most important Brazilian competition, which opens doors to the most important competitions worldwide.”

The tournament also marks a special moment for the red-black athletes , who compete at home, in a pool they know like few others.

“I personally think that competing at home is really good, because I know the pool like the back of my hand, I train in it every day, I know everything that goes on,” says Stephan. “This is where my team and my club are. It’s a lot more pressure, but I see it as a positive thing. You have more visibility, it’s at home, so there are even more fans. And I think that’s really cool for the competition.”

In the final stages of preparation, Flamengo athletes also spent a period of training and competitions in the United States , one of the great powers in world swimming.

“This preparation was great because we not only swam with the best in the world , but also with the best facilities. We don’t achieve this type of competitiveness very often in Brazil. This serves as motivation and preparation for bigger things,” adds Stephan.

With free entry for the public, Maria Lenk promises great competitions. It's the Brazilian swimming elite in action – and Flamengo as the protagonist in its own home.

Last minute

Team

NBA star Joel Embiid makes an appearance at Flamengo's store

The Philadelphia 76ers center was at a shopping mall in Cabo Frio, in the Lakes Region of Rio de Janeiro, and made purchases of Mengão products.

Joel Embiid enjoys vacation in Brazil and is seen in Flamengo's official store at the Cabo Frio Shopping Mall-RJ - Photo: Reproduction

22 Ago 2025 | 19:00 |

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid, MVP of the 2022/23 NBA season, once again demonstrated his affection for Flamengo . Last Thursday (21), the Cameroonian player was spotted in an official club store, in Cabo Frio (RJ) , where he made a point of purchasing several red-black products.

A SURPRISING VISIT

Although unusual, Embiid's presence in the Lakes Region has a reason. Married to Brazilian model Anne de Paula, the athlete often visits the city, where his father-in-law lives, during the holidays. This time, he took the opportunity to explore the "Nação Rubro-Negra" store and expand his Flamengo memorabilia collection.

ENTHUSIASM IN THE STORE

The star's arrival took everyone by surprise and caused great excitement among the employees. Salesman Kauan said he was so nervous when he met the player that he forgot to remove the alarm from a piece of furniture, creating an unusual moment: " His father-in-law even joked with me afterward. It was an unforgettable experience ," he revealed.

GENEROUS SHOPPING

Embiid didn't hold back. He brought jerseys for himself, his wife, his father-in-law, and his son , as well as accessories like shorts and thermoses. The visit even helped meet the store's sales goals. The center also obliged some fans and store owners by agreeing to take photos with them.

RELATIONSHIP WITH FLAMENGO

Embiid's connection with Flamengo isn't new. In 2023, during an interview with the NBA Freestyle program, he revealed that he started supporting Flamengo because of his wife's family: " Actually, I'm a Flamengo fan because my girlfriend's father is a fan . Since we started dating, I've been following the team," he said.

MEETING WITH PLAYERS

In January 2024, when Flamengo held a preseason training camp in Philadelphia, Embiid met Léo Pereira and Matheus Gonçalves . The defender even posted a photo with the star: " Nice to meet you, brother ." Thus, the relationship between Joel Embiid and Flamengo continues to grow, uniting basketball and soccer in a connection that already transcends borders.