The Portuguese canoeist Fernando Pimenta admitted on Monday that the 13 medals in the main international events in 2023, including gold in the Olympic K1 1,000-meter World Cup, made it one of the “best seasons in history”.
“For sure, it’s one of my best seasons. The only thing I was missing was the European title, but I didn’t have my specialty either. I won medals in all the competitions I participated in, even though it wasn’t my specialty. [maratonas]. I have to be super happy,” said the limiano, to the Lusa agency.
At the European Games in Krakow, Poland, which served as the European Championship, the lake where the test took place was not large enough to host the K1 1,000 and 5,000 meter tests, so they were not carried out, exceptionally. and unprecedented in history. of sport.
In addition, in the 14 events in which he has competed this season, the double Olympic Games medalist only missed the podium in the K1 5,000 meters of the first World Cup, in Hungary, “because the rudder broke” and he had to abandon.
“I don’t remember that many athletes won medals in World Championships in different distances and categories, in marathon and sprint, separated by only a week and a half. I am very happy with the work, it went perfectly”, he congratulated him.
Pimenta, who has been on the podium 136 times, remembers that when he finished the specific work he did for the World Speed Championship, in Duisburg, Germany, where he won his third title in the K1 1,000 Olympic, he stayed. with his coach, Hélio Lucas, training a little more to be able to shine equally in the marathon world championships.
“Fortunately I managed to renew the two titles won in Portugal in 2022. I am very happy. Without a doubt, it has been one of my best seasons”, he concluded, referring to the gold in the ‘short race’ and in K2 in long distance, together with José Ramalho.
In total, the 34-year-old Pimenta won five gold, six silver and two bronze medals in 2023.
Fernando Pimenta only needs to fulfill his dream of winning the Olympic gold medal, after silver in London 2012 in K2 1,000 meters with Emanuel Silva and bronze in Tokyo 2020 in K1 1,000.
Fernando Pimenta Medals in 2023:
– Speed:
World Championship in Duisburg, Germany.
Gold: K1 1000 meters
Silver: K1 5,000
Bronze: K1500
European Games/European Championship in Krakow, Poland.
Silver: K1 500
(There was no 1,000K or 5,000K test)
Soccer World Cup in Szeged, Hungary.
Gold: K1500
Silver: 1,000 kr.
Mixed K2 500 Bronze (with Teresa Portela)
World Cup in Poznan, Poland.
Gold: Mixed K2 500 (Teresa Portela)
Silver: K1 1,000
Silver: K1 500
Silver: K1 5000
– Marathons
World Championship in Vejen, Denmark
Gold: K1 ‘short race’
Gold: K2 (with José Ramalho)
Source: TSF
