Canoeist Teresa Portela has arrived at the World Championships in Milan with a clear mission. She wants to reach the K1 200-meter final. Beyond that, she aims to push the K4 500-meter crew to a new level. This growth is key for the team to dream of competing in Los Angeles in 2028.
“I decided to race the K1 200 because I believe making that final is possible,” Portela said. “It’s been a few years since I’ve been in that boat, but I’m truly excited about it.” She usually competes in the K1 500-meter event.
Speaking to Lusa, the 37-year-old athlete shared her strong ambition. She could compete in her sixth Olympic Games, a remarkable achievement. She also hopes her K4 crew, including Ana Brito, Ana Rodrigues, and Inês Costa, will join her there.
“We don’t have many past results for the K4 yet,” she explained. “In the heats, there isn’t any boat that’s significantly weaker than us.” She plans for the team to aim for the semi-final. Once there, they will try to deliver a strong performance. “We need to improve from the European Championships,” Portela added. “Then, by next year, we’ll know exactly where we stand. We have to start somewhere, and these World Championships are our first step.”
The canoeist, hailing from Esposende, has been a part of World Championships for two decades. She noted that each season brings her different goals. These are clearly shown in the two distinct competitions she’s tackling, with different distances and different crews.
“I’m joining a team again, and I’m clearly the oldest and most experienced one,” Portela stated. “This is my 20th World Championship, but for them, it’s their first. That’s a huge difference.” She’s working to match their pace and avoid putting too much pressure on them. The goal is to build a competitive women’s K4 for this Olympic cycle.
At the European Championships, the Portuguese quartet finished fourth in their semi-final. This placed them 10th overall. They were the first boat to miss out on the medal race. They were just 0.34 seconds away from their goal.
The women’s Portuguese team at the World Championships includes two other athletes. Beatriz Fernandes and Inês Penetra will compete in the canoes.
The full Portuguese team in Milan includes 12 canoeists, with six men and six women. Two paracanoists also join the squad. This competition brings together around 800 athletes from 73 countries.