Portugal’s canoeing talent has captured the world’s attention, bringing home an impressive haul of medals. Yet, even with shining gold and silver, a clear message echoed from the nation’s Parliament: these athletes deserve more. José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, who leads the Assembly of the Republic, spoke highly of the Portuguese Canoe Federation (FPC). He believes that with better support, these paddlers can truly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the very best on the global stage.
“We have so many chances to get to the top, especially in sports like canoeing, if we just give them more resources,” Aguiar-Branco stated. “There’s nothing to fear. We can go head-to-head with anyone. We’ve seen that already.” His comments came during a special event to honor the team. The Assembly had voted unanimously to praise the athletes for their incredible results at the European Sprint and Paracanoeing Championship. This competition took place in June in Racice, Czech Republic.
Aguiar-Branco pointed out a simple truth: “You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. We really need to pay more attention to these athletes’ journeys. We need to give them the tools to succeed.” He stressed that providing the right conditions is key to their continued success.
A Season of Triumphs
The European Championship was a showcase of Portuguese power on the water. Here are some of the standout performances:
- Fernando Pimenta became a double European champion, winning gold in both the K1 1,000 meters and 5,000 meters.
- The team of Gustavo Gonçalves, João Ribeiro, Messias Baptista, and Pedro Casinha stormed to a gold medal in the K4 500 meters.
- Norberto Mourão earned a gold medal in the adapted VL200 class.
- Messias Baptista also claimed a silver medal in the K1 200 meters race.
Aguiar-Branco praises Portuguese canoeing at the FPC headquarters in Vila Nova de Gaia
The Push for More Support
The FPC’s president, Ricardo Machado, has voiced concerns about funding. He noted that financial support for the sport hasn’t really grown over the last ten years. Aguiar-Branco acknowledged that budget issues are real, and money can’t cover everything. However, he also suggested that smarter choices and better strategies could help achieve the desired goals. “There’s definitely more we can do,” he added.
Aguiar-Branco sees these formal moments of recognition as more than just symbolic. He believes they create media attention. This spotlight, he argued, helps influence decision-makers to invest more in the sport. He praised the FPC and everyone involved, highlighting their “hard, persistent work, filled with sacrifice and high demands.” This dedicated effort, he said, truly earned the Assembly’s unanimous praise.
The special event took place at the FPC headquarters in Vila Nova de Gaia. Leaders from the federation attended, alongside the medal-winning athletes and their coaching teams. It was a day to celebrate success, but also a call to action for a stronger future for Portuguese canoeing.