Brazil, Panamerican Sprint champion at Rio de Janeiro

Last weekend it was held at Rio de Janeiro, at the venue that will be olympic in 2016, the Panamerican Sprint Chamionship, where Brazil claimed nations title over Argentina and Chile. In addition, Brazil also took gold in future paralympic discipline of Paracanoe.

During three days, 150 paddlers from eight countries (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Canada, Ecuador, Venezuela and Puerto Rico) competed at Lake Rodrigo de Freitas. The main stars of the event were the Brazilian C2 of Erlon Silva and Ronilson Oliveira, who won both 1.000 (discipline where they will be representing Brazil at London's Games) and 200 with a comfortable difference over Chile and Venezuela. As Oliveira said, "every competition is a step more in our evolution and these championships have being a great test in our preparation for London". The couple will start in May, as many other Americans qualyfied for London, their European tour which includes the three World Cups at Poznan, Duisburg and Moscow and will finish in June with a stage in Portugal.


At the C1, the also brazilian Nivalter Santos took victory at the 200 metres, while the most spectacular races were over that distance the K1 and K2. In K1 gold went to the main favourite, César de Cesare (ECU). The finalist at last World Championships in Szeged beated Argentinian Rubén Rezola in a very closed final. Both already got their passport for London, but Rezola in K2 with the always present Javier Correa. Their K2 claimed gold over 200, were Roberto Maehler and Edson Isaias Freitas (BRA) took silver and Fernando Aguayo and Miguel Melgarejo (CHI) took bronze.

César de Cesare supera a Rubén rezola en la final del K1 200

Concerning the ladies competitions, Argentina had almost all the leadership by winning the kayak disciplines, while Brazil wnet ahead in the new ladies discipline of canoe. The main star was the Argentinian born Hungarian Alexandra Keresztesi, who took gold in K1 500 with 2'10".

At this link you may check all the results of the Campionships.