The Portuguese canoeist Fernando Pimenta wants to “reinforce” his collection of international medals in Halifax, with four appointments in the World Cup improving his resume of 115 podiums in international competitions.
I would like to increase my record a little more. But it is step by step. First, try to recover as best as possible from the trip and the ‘jet lag’, then fight for the final and then try to put on a good sporting show and good feelings to get out of here with good results”, he said in statements to Lusa.
Bronze medal in Tokyo 2020 in K1 1000, the man from Lim defends world gold in this discipline in Canada, conquered in 2021 in Copenhagen, where he was also silver in the test that took place shortly after the Olympic Games.
We have already started the season very well with medals in the world championships, which opened up good prospects for the work we have been doing. In the world championship it will be race by race”, said the athlete who will do the K1 500, 1,000 and 5,000, as well as the mixed K2 500 with Teresa Portela.
At the World Cup in Poznan, Poland, the 32-year-old canoeist won gold precisely in the four events he will do in Halifax.while in Racece, Czech Republic, he won the K1 1,000 and the K2 1,000, with João Duarte, being silver in the K1 5,000.
At the end of Tokyo 2020, the most successful Portuguese canoeist in history expressed his desire to one day finish his career with the three Olympic “metals”, now in the absence of gold after silver in London 2012, in K2 1,000 with Emanuel Silva.
Pimenta is already “focused” on Paris 2024, but he does not see the French competition as the last chance to achieve it, a race finish, since Los Angeles 2028 is “only” four years later.
It is step by step. First focus on this cycle and then see how I am psychologically and physically, how I am holding up. It is very important emotionally to be motivated and continue enjoying what I do”, she stressed.
Teresa Portela, the best Portuguese canoeist, is focused above all on the Olympic K1 500, but hopes to qualify for the mixed K1 200 and K2 500 finals with his friend Fernando Pimenta.
It’s good to be able to compete with him. If we get a medal, it’s always welcome, but that’s not the goal of this World Cup. be able to share [uma medalha] with Pimenta it would also be a reward for all my journey over the years”, he assumed.
This competition, which will serve to “depressurize”, does not take away the focus of Teresa Portela who wants, above all, “to maintain the record of playing world finals, which has been taking place since 2010”.
Source: Observadora
