The European Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint Championships are really heating up in Romania. Portugal’s young paddlers are showing off their skills, securing spots in three more A finals. These are the main races where the medals are handed out.
António Ribeiro proved his strength in the K1 U23 1000-meter event. He powered his way to a second-place finish, putting him right in contention for a medal. Lara Lopes also had a standout race, taking second place in the C1 500 meters. She paddled with impressive speed and control. Not to be outdone, the K4 500-meter crew also finished in second. Ricardo Gonçalves, Bruno Brasileiro, Rafael Oliveira, and Duarte Cerdeira worked together perfectly to earn their A final berth.
The talent pool for Portugal runs even deeper than those in the A finals. Four more athletes are set to compete in the semifinals. Lara Lopes will hit the water again, this time in the C1 Junior 200 meters. Afonso Pereira is ready for his C1 U23 200-meter semifinal. Hugo Carvalho will race in the K1 Junior 200 meters, aiming for a final spot. And Clara Duarte will push hard in the K1 U23 200 meters. The championships continue until Sunday, July 6th, promising more exciting races.