Flamengo has announced the end of its canoeing and rowing programs, dismissing athletes including Olympic medalist Isaquias Queiroz. The club cited the athlete's lack of residence in Rio de Janeiro as a key factor. The move also impacts pararoing, closing a seven-year chapter for the canoeist.
The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo made a significant decision by ending its canoeing and rowing activities on Monday, January 5, 2026. Among the dismissed athletes is Isaquias Queiroz, who won five Olympic medals in the Rio-2016, Tokyo-2020, and Paris-2024 editions. Linked to the club for seven years, Queiroz received support in national competitions and had renewed his contract in March 2025, aiming for the cycle to the Los Angeles-2028 Games.
Isaquias's wife, Laina Guimarães, expressed pride and sadness in a social media post: "Muito orgulho, meu amor, de você ter vestido realmente esse manto de corpo e alma e representado tão bem o Mengão. Triste porque sou flamenguista desde que me entendo por gente. E não ver o maior no melhor time do Brasil me corta o coração".
In an official statement, Flamengo explained that the lack of residence in Rio makes a structured project unfeasible. "Atualmente, tanto Isaquias Queiroz como Gabriel Assunção, Mateus dos Santos e Valdenice do Nascimento não residem nem realizam seus treinamentos no Rio de Janeiro. Esse contexto inviabiliza a consolidação de um trabalho estruturado de base e a formação de novos talentos, pilares fundamentais do projeto esportivo do Flamengo", the club stated.
The measure extends to pararoing, dismissing Michel Pessanha, Gessyca Guerra, Diana Barcellos, and Valdenir Junior. Flamengo thanked these athletes for their dedication and wished them success in future careers, highlighting their contribution to the club's history in adaptive sports. This restructuring reflects the historical DNA of the club, prioritizing solid foundations in Rio.
