Canoeist Beatriz Fernandes was crowned junior world champion in C1 marathons on Thursday, in a race on the River Lima, in Ponte de Lima.
Weeks after winning gold in the C1 200 meters, in-line regattas, at the Hungarian World Cups, Beatriz Fernandes, now competing in her home country, once again showed her emerging prowess in canoeing, pushing herself with distinction on the 22.6 kilometer course.
The kayaker, who attacked early, rode alone for almost the entire race, finishing in 1:09:06, beating Ukraine’s Anastasia Dezhytska by 1.39 minutes and compatriot Ana Pereira by 3.21.
Ana Pereira came to discuss the bronze with the Italian Francesca Vigorito, who finally passed a course of about 100 meters on land at the last toll, in which the participants carry their kayaks.
At the World Championships in Hungary in early September, Beatriz Fernandes had won bronze in the C1 1,000 meters and silver in the C2 500 mixed with Martim Azevedo.
Also this Thursday, the highlight is the senior short race, in which José Ramalho defends the world title, in a regatta in which he will be joined by Fernando Pimenta, who returns ten years later to participate in marathons, on his Ponte de Lima.
The Marathon World Cup will bring together 890 canoeists from 36 countries through Sunday.
Canoeist Beatriz Fernandes says it is “spectacular” to combine two world titles
Canoeist Beatriz Fernandes found this Thursday “spectacular to combine the world titles of the two extremes” of C1, referring to the triumph in the marathon race in Ponte de Lima, which contributed to the Olympic 200 meters conquered in Hungary.
“It means that the work of the whole season is paying off, despite my training not being for this aspect. I am super happy to be champion of the world 200 meters and marathons, both extremes. It is spectacular,” emphasized them in statements to Lusa.
After winning gold at the beginning of the month in the Olympic C1 200 meters in the in-line (speed) regattas in Szeged, a Magyar city that is the international capital of canoeing, limiana completely dominated the marathon competition, from 11, 8 kilometers on the Lima River.
“It was my first marathon at international level, I didn’t know how the other participants were doing. I knew at some point I could break, have to share a wave, but everything went well and I held on to the end.” she rejoiced.
Beatriz Fernandes admitted that it was “even more special” to become world champion in her Ponte de Lima, assuming that the fact of daily training in this area has “helped a lot”.
The first year of Clinical Biology at the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra wants to be in Paris 2024 (C1 200), but she points out that her next goal is to be able to show value again in the Kraków 2023 European Games.
“These goals are still a long way off, but essentially it’s training and believing,” condemns the athlete who hopes to “inspire” other young women to go canoeing.
At the World Championships in Hungary in early September, Beatriz Fernandes had also won bronze in the C1 1,000 meters and silver in the C2 500 mixed with Martim Azevedo.
The Portuguese canoeist finished her race in 01:09:06, beating Ukrainian Anastasia Dezhytska with 1.39 minutes and compatriot Ana Pereira with 3.21.
“I worked hard for this, but I didn’t believe it was possible to get this far. I thought about a good result, not a medal. Fortunately, I succeeded and the work was rewarded,” congratulated Ana Pereira.
The 17-year-old, who is in her first year of nursing, overtook an Italian rival at the final toll and never lost her position.
“All I thought was ‘either give it all now or not’. It was until I couldn’t take it anymore. My body is all torn apart. It was worth it because I did it and now I’m third best in the world.” world,” she added.
The Marathon World Cup will bring together 890 canoeists from 36 countries through Sunday.
Source: DN
