SESC FLAMENGO MEETS THE OPPONENT OF THE SEMIFINAL OF THE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL SUPERLEAGUE

The junior world champion in the C1 1000m and C2 500m and the first Brazilian female canoeist at the Olympics now wears the Sacred Mantle! Mateus Nunes and Valdenice signed with Flamengo and are already acclimatizing for Paris 2024.

Mateus Nunes, 18 years old and born in Itacaré, Bahia, is the youngest red and black athlete and has just competed in the Junior Canoe Sprint World Cup in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and won two gold medals. The first in the C1 1000m - competition from fellow Mengão athlete Isaquias Queiroz, and in the C2 500m. This was the last tournament before Mateus arrived in Paris for the Olympic games.

Valdenice Conceição arrives at Flamengo as the first athlete in history to win an Olympic place for Brazil in women's canoeing. At 34 years old and born in Maraú, Bahia, the canoeist is now part of the FlaCanoagem squad. Valdenice, known as “Neta Canoa” qualified for the games in the C1 200m race. In April 2024, Valdenice had already marked her place in the sport, by becoming the first Brazilian woman to win a speed medal at the Pan-American Canoeing Games, in the United States.

Mateus Nunes and Valdenice Conceição join Isaquias Queiroz and will compete in the 2024 Olympic Games as Flamengo athletes. 

The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games starts this Friday- fair (26), but the 2024 edition of the event has already started with football and 7-a-side rugby, both in the men's category, on Wednesday (24). One of the biggest medal expectations for Brazil is artistic gymnastics, which has five Flamengo athletes in the country's delegation (four in the women's and one in the men's).

This Wednesday, through social media, Rubro-negro released videos with messages from the club's gymnasts who will represent Brazil in Paris. See below:

“This edition of the Games Paris Olympics we will try to improve participation. I was in Tokyo, I was the youngest on the team, I was going to gain Olympic experience and experience, to be among the best in the world. I took everything I learned in Tokyo and used it to work during these years until I arrived in Paris, and I will definitely arrive better than I arrived in Tokyo. I'm going to try to be among the top 10 in the world in the individual all-around. Any opportunity I have to take a final on the fixed or parallel bar, I will be prepared. The general individual is our focus. If everything goes much better than we expect, we want to be in the top five”, said Diogo.

“My expectations is that we arrive happy and healthy to give our best performances and represent our country and our club in the best way possible. As the years went by, we built many things within gymnastics, becoming even more physically and mentally mature to overcome obstacles. Unlike all countries, Brazil is very happy, cheerful, charismatic, everyone notices this and wants to be close to us”, said the Olympic champion.

“I hope we can enjoy every day from preparation to competition day. Every day can make a difference in the smallest details. We are anxious but want to enjoy each day. This team that is planned is a more experienced team, they are girls who have already competed in many games, world medalists, Olympic medalists. It's a very special team that Brazil has. The majority are predominantly from Flamengo, so we are very honored and privileged to be able to enjoy this moment. May we be very happy in Paris.” Flavia Saraiva

“Very happy to be able to represent my country once again at the Olympic Games. A different cycle from Tokyo, which had the pandemic. In 2016 it was my first Olympics. I hope to be very happy and represent my country in the best possible way”, commented the little giant.

“We have been preparing for many years. We train together, we want to get there and do our best. Unlike other years, our experience is much better, as a team, individually, we are happy, we feel good in the gym. Let's get there in the best way. The result will come, for sure.”

With many new features, Sesc RJ Flamengo has started work for the 2024/2025 season. This Monday (03.06), the greatest Brazilian volleyball champion reappeared at the Army Physical Education School (EsEFEx), in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, with seven new faces and eight remnants from the last Superliga. The objective remains the same: to take work and dedication to the court to try to remain among the country's main forces.

Not counting coach Bernardinho, setter Brie and winger Helena, who are competing for the League of Nations, the group showed plenty of energy. For now, the athletes will undergo physical and medical evaluations. Work with the ball is scheduled for next week.

"It's a very changed squad compared to last season, but we believe that we have put together a young group with very interesting potential, so that we can continue the work and reach the highest possible place. We hit the goalposts in recent seasons, finishing in the semi-finals of the Superliga, but we have all the conditions to do a good job and, who knows, return to compete in the final", said Helio Griner, assistant manager. Bernardinho and coach of Sesc RJ Flamengo in the absence of the two-time Olympic champion.

One of the new additions is the opposite Edinara, 28 years old, which came from Sesi Bauru. Champion of the 2018 Grand Prix with the Brazilian team, the Santa Catarina native accumulates experience in great teams in Brazil. After more than a decade, she will achieve an old goal of working alongside Bernardinho and his coaching staff.

"It's a dream come true. In 2012, when I met Bernardo in person for the first time, in Saquarema, still with the youth teams, he told me: "I want to work with you one day." Since then, I've been very excited. It still doesn't seem true that I came here with the aim of becoming a better athlete than I was. when I arrived. I want to evolve in all aspects, both in attack and in defense", said Edinara.

In the same position, Sesc RJ Flamengo will count on the determination of Camila Mesquita, 24 years old, champion. of the 2020/2021 Superliga for Minas. After a season at Barueri, the São Paulo native says she is prepared to face the responsibility of defending the shirt of the country's biggest winner.

"I really wanted to be here and train with Bernardo, who is a genius of the volleyball, and with the entire structure of Sesc RJ Flamengo. Living in Rio de Janeiro is a completely different experience than many I've had, but I identify with the way of working. It's a team that trains a lot, where results are demanded. It's big. I personally like this charge, because I think it helps us get where we want", highlighted Camila Mesquita.

Another name that will add experience and quality to Sesc RJ Flamengo is central Lorena. , 24 years old and 1.90m tall. A former Praia Clube player, the native of Mato Grosso has recent stints with the Brazilian national team and arrives ready to learn from her new teammates.

"I was ecstatic with the invitation to play for Sesc RJ Flamengo. The team It is a reference in Brazilian volleyball and a place where many of my references have passed, like Juciely. I hope to be able to meet and exceed my expectations and those of the group. more. I have huge expectations, because I really want to work", assured Lorena.

In the same position, Sesc RJ Flamengo will count on the youth of Juju and Adria for another season. Furthermore, the arrival of Jussara, 27 years old, who was at Maringá, will offer more options in the sector. The Minas Gerais native smiled when talking about the special opportunity in her career.

"I remember the Sesc RJ Flamengo team coming in for preparation training before playing there in the Maringá gym. I thought "Wow Will I ever get there? Will it one day work?" And it did! The feeling I have today is one of total gratitude. I didn't believe that one day I would be here. I have a lot of hope that I will improve my game rhythm and my blocking movement, in addition to add strength and speed to my attack", says Jussara.

Among the wingers, Sesc RJ Flamengo will also have news. In addition to Michelle's experience and Helena's youth, Bernardinho will count on Karina, 25 years old, ex-Sesi Bauru, and Mikaela, just 16 years old, who was at Tijuca Tênis Clube.

"It has always been It's a dream to play at Sesc RJ Flamengo and work with Bernardo and his coaching staff. I've always seen this team in a very different way than others. I think it's a very harmonious group and I want to contribute a lot, improve and help the team. transform me as an athlete and as a person", said Karina.

In addition, the young Victoria, 20 years old, trained in Flamengo's youth categories, joins Laís from Rio among the liberos of Sesc RJ Flamengo .

Setters: Brie, Rose and Clara

Pointers : Michelle, Helena, Karina and Mikaela

Opposites: Edinara and Camila Mesquita

Centers: Juju, Lorena, Adria and Jussara

Liberos: Lais and Victória< /p>