Flamengo announced this Monday (5) the dismissal of athletes and the closure of the club’s canoeing and rowing activities. Among the names that no longer have links with the Rio team is Isaquias Queiroz, owner of five Olympic medals.
Medalist in the last three editions of the Olympic Games —Rio-2016, Tokyo-2020 and Paris-2024—, he had the support of the red and black in national competitions. Linked to the club for the last seven years, the athlete had renewed his contract in March 2025 for the cycle until Los Angeles-2028.
“Very proud, my love, that you really wore this mantle with body and soul and represented Mengão so well. Sad because I’ve been a Flamengo fan for as long as I can remember. And not seeing the greatest on the best team in Brazil breaks my heart,” wrote Laina Guimarães, wife of Isaquias Queiroz, on social media.
In a statement, the club stated that the fact that the canoeist does not live in Rio de Janeiro influenced the board’s decision.
“Currently, both Isaquias Queiroz and Gabriel Assunção, Mateus dos Santos and Valdenice do Nascimento do not reside or train in Rio de Janeiro. This context makes it impossible to consolidate structured grassroots work and train new talents, fundamental pillars of Flamengo’s sporting project and an essential part of its historical DNA,” the club wrote.
The red-black team also ended the pararemo sport. As a result, Michel Pessanha, Gessyca Guerra, Diana Barcellos and Valdenir Junior were dismissed.
“The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo also ends its participation in pararemo. The club thanks athletes Michel Pessanha, Gessyca Guerra, Diana Barcellos and Valdenir Junior for representing the Sacred Mantle with dedication, commitment and sportsmanship, contributing to the red and black history in parasports. Flamengo recognizes the importance of their trajectories and wishes them complete success in the continuity of their careers”, says another part of the statement.
