A dream came true for Portuguese canoeists Rui Lacerda and Ricardo Coelho. The duo celebrated their first ever world title in C2 marathons this past Sunday in Hungary. This victory sealed what they called a “perfect season,” which also included a gold medal at the European Championships.
Rui Lacerda, a 33-year-old firefighter, spoke to Lusa news agency. He called the win the “culmination of a lot of hard work.” For Lacerda, who had previously won a gold medal at a junior World Championship, this senior title was truly a “dream come true.”
The pair, hailing from Ponte de Lima, paddled the 21.8-kilometer course in Gyor. They finished in a blistering 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 45.63 seconds. Their dominance was clear, beating Spanish rivals Jaime Duro and Manuel Garrido by 49 seconds. Polish competitors Mateusz Zuchora and Mateusz Borgel trailed even further, finishing 1 minute and 47 seconds behind.
Hearing Portugal’s national anthem play was a powerful moment. Lacerda shared his feelings, saying, “It was very good to hear ‘A Portuguesa’.” He added that whether in Hungary, Japan, or anywhere else, the feeling of triumph and national pride would be “equally unique and special.” He noted the significance of this win in Hungary, a country renowned for its strong international canoeing tradition.
What’s their secret? Lacerda points to “a lot of sacrifice in training.” He explained that they train together as a team but also push each other as rivals. This approach helps them improve constantly and fine-tune necessary details. He praised their solid average race pace and how their strokes “fit better and better.” Lacerda believes their technique allows them to “maintain the boat at the right speed to lead us to gold, even when tired.”
Ricardo Coelho, a 26-year-old electronic engineer, emphasized how “very special” this first world title is. He added it holds “even more meaning” because he achieved it with his close friend. Coelho admitted, “It was also a dream I’d had for some time.” He saw this victory as “the cherry on top of the cake” after years of dedication.
Coelho confessed that he “never even in his best dreams” imagined ending the season as both European and World champion. Now that they’ve reached this peak, their goal is simple: to “repeat it in the future.”
Portugal finished the Marathon World Championships in fourth place overall. The nation secured an impressive haul of three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. Beyond Lacerda and Coelho’s gold, Fernando Pimenta also won the K1 short race. In that same event, José Ramalho secured a bronze medal. Pimenta and Ramalho then teamed up to take the K2 title. In the junior category, Leonardo Barbosa earned a silver medal in the C1 event.