Fernando Pimenta, the seasoned canoeist, had a plan for a relaxed year. This was the first season after the Olympics, a time many athletes use to recharge. But Pimenta’s fierce drive had other ideas, pushing him to an astonishing eight podium finishes. Six of those glinted gold, earned across both his sprint and marathon events.
Looking back, Pimenta couldn’t help but beam. “I have to give this year a truly positive review,” he told Lusa news agency. “It’s amazing what we accomplished, especially because my training schedule was much lighter. To pull off these results with a less intense preparation? That’s something special.”
His medal cabinet certainly grew heavier. Pimenta bagged two European titles on the sprint course: one in the K1 1,000-meter race, another in the K1 5,000-meter. Then came the World Championships in Gyor, Hungary, where he truly shone in marathon canoeing. He grabbed gold in the K1 short distance and another with partner José Ramalho in the K2 event.
“Don’t forget the bronze!” he added. He also secured a K1 1,000-meter bronze at the Track World Championship in Milan. “This was a really positive season,” Pimenta emphasized. “It clearly shows the results of our consistent hard work. Our skill and standards are undeniable.”
Most athletes take it easier the year after the Olympics. Pimenta, hailing from Limia, truly embraced this idea for his training. He spent fewer days in training camps than usual. Even his altitude training, a regular part of his routine, was skipped entirely this season.
He called it “much quieter on the preparation side, but not in terms of how hard we pushed.” They still trained with fierce dedication. “We have talent,” he explained, “and all that effort from past years built a strong foundation. That foundation helps us shine so brightly now.” He finished, “This season was fantastic, and it felt much less tiring both physically and emotionally.”
Pimenta’s steady discipline and top-notch daily work keep him at the peak of the sport, even at 36. This year, his success was also a powerful answer to some doubters. After the Milan sprint World Championships, where he missed the podium in K1 500 and 5,000 meters, a few voices suggested his career was fading.
But in Hungary, where canoeing is the top sport, people were saying he just gets better with age. Pimenta admitted, “Some comments back home in Portugal also fueled me up for these World Championships. Guess what? At 36, I’m still out there battling the younger guys. I earn their respect and keep bringing home titles.”
With the season wrapped, it’s finally time for Pimenta to catch up on family time. He’s eager to “satisfy that longing,” as he put it, for his wife, Joana Marinho—a canoeist herself—and their two kids, aged four and two.