The President of the Portuguese Canoe Federation (FPC), Vitor Felix, praised the modality’s performance at the European Games this Monday, congratulating himself on bringing the country the most medals in the first week of competition in Poland.
“This is clearly a very positive balance. The European Championship is integrated into these European Games. This is by far one of our best European tournaments ever. By far our best European games in three editions. the inevitable Fernando Pimenta, who already has 131 podiums,” praised the manager.
Halfway through the competition, Portugal has nine podium finishes: four in canoeing, three in athletics, one in karate and one in padel tennis.
“The President and management are very pleased with the results of the team, which contribute to the improvement of Portugal’s performance at these European Games,” he stressed.
Messias Baptista in K1 200m and duo Teresa Portela/Kevin Santos in mixed K2 200 won gold in Krakow, while Fernando Pimenta won silver in K1 500 – his fifth silver at the European Games – and Franziska Laya bronze in K1 200 .
“It shows what this last decade of the Portuguese canoe has been like, always fighting for the top spots. And we still had fourth place at 15 thousandths of a second from the podium. But we can not lose sight of the main thing – qualifications. for the Olympic Championship of the August World,” he stressed.
Portugal’s performance in Krakow with four medals in a total of 10 finals, not counting the 1000m and 5000m distances, due to the small size of the lake, does not affect the long-term goals set for the Paris Games.
“From the very beginning of the cycle, the federation set itself the task of eight to ten canoeists to qualify. And with getting two medals between the Olympic and Paralympic Games. When it comes to canoeing, the bar is always high,” he suggested.
Portugal has nine medals at the European Games, namely three gold, three silver and three bronze, of which four in canoeing, three in athletics, one in karate and padel tennis, respectively, in the national medal.
The Third European Games will last until July 2 in Krakow and in the Polish region of Lesser Poland, in the program of 30 sports and 48 participating countries, including Portugal, whose delegation has more than two hundred athletes.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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