Portuguese Canoe Federation celebrated the successes of athletes, clubs and federation on international and national level in the previous year. The gala evening was organised in Braga, the city in northwestern part of Portugal which is this year’s European city of sport. With many excellent results Portuguese athletes had in the previous year the task of selecting the best was not easy, but it was Fernando Pimenta who had an amazing season with European and World champion titles in his pocket and was named Portuguese kayaker of the year. Teresa Portela was named best female athlete of the year, the award for young hope went to the hands of Sérgio Maciel, while Hélio Lucas received an award for the best coach.
Gala evening of Portuguese canoeing attracted many canoe fans, supporters and representatives of sports organisations, among them were also president of the European Canoe Association Albert Woods OBE, presidents of Portuguese Olympic and Paralympic Committees, representatives of Portuguese Institute of sport and youth and the secretary of State for sport and youth. They did not only see the best canoe athletes in Portugal, but were also introduced to the new mascot, called Pimentinha (which could translate to Little Pepper and is actually inspired with Fernando Pimenta), and saw the presentations of the biggest canoeing events Portugal will host in 2018 – Canoe Sprint and Paracanoeing World Championships and Canoe Marathon World Championships.
With not much surprise Fernando Pimenta received an award for the best male athlete of the year. 28-year-old paddler from Ponte de Lima became European Champion in Plovdiv in men’s K1 1000 metres event and picked up a silver medal in 5000 metres event. He won gold and silver medals at World Championships as well, only this time silver in 1000 metres event and gold in 5000 metres race. He won four medals at World Cup races and finished the season third in the Overall World Cup standings.
The man behind Pimenta’s excellent results – Hélio Lucas – was also awarded this evening. He received an award for the best coach of the year.
The best female athlete of the year was another member of Portuguese Canoe Sprint national team. Teresa Portela started her international season with a win at the first World Cup race of the year which was organised in Montemor-o-Velho. She was the fastest in women’s K1 200 metres event, and also finished fourth in K1W 500 metres event as well as in K4W 500 metres event. At European Championships in Bulgaria she paddled in three finals, finishing eighth in women’s K1 200 metres event, and ninth in K2 and K4 500 metres events. At World Championships in Račice she won seventh place in K1W 500 metres final, ninth in K1W 200 metres final and 10th in K4W 500 metres event. She was fifth in the Overall World Cup standings.
Results of younger generation show there is nothing to be afraid in the future of Portuguese canoeing. Sérgio Maciel is already one of the World’s best canoe marathon paddlers. Former Junior Canoe Marathon European Champion is picking up medals in the U23 category too. He was third in front of his home crowd in Ponte de Lima at last year’s European Championships. He crossed the finish line behind two Polish canoeists Patryk Gluza and Mateusz Borgiel. Sérgio was even better at World Championships in South Africa where he picked up silver medal in men’s C1 U23 category and was only behind Hungarian paddler Bence Balazs Dori. Sérgio Maciel was named Portuguese young hope of the year 2017 at the gala evening in Braga.
Photos:
Federação Portuguesa de Canoagem
27.2.2018
