Fernando Pimenta with another world title!

BTV INTERVIEW

Fernando Pimenta, a canoeist from Sport Lisboa e Benfica, was again in top form this Sunday, September 3. After becoming world champion in K1 short race at the World Marathon Championships held in Vejen, Denmark, the Olympic athlete added another gold medal to his vast trophy cabinet, now in the K2 marathon!

In this competition, the national duo of Fernando Pimenta and José Ramalho beat off the competition and revalidated the world title they won in 2022, in Ponte de Lima.

Fernando Pimenta and his national team colleague finished the 27.6 km race with a time of 1:54:35.11, ahead of Quentin Urban and Jeremy Candy, the French duo who finished the race in 2nd place (1:54:35.89).

Rounding out the podium were Jon Vold and Eivind Vold (Norway), canoeists who finished in 1:54:36.42.

STATEMENTS

Fernando Pimenta (Benfica canoeist): "It's been a very intense nine days. Less than a week ago, I had the World Sprint Championships. On Thursday [August 31], I managed to win back the K1 short race title at the World Marathon Championships. Today [Sunday, September 3], with my colleague José Ramalho, we managed to revalidate the world title in the K2 marathon, in a very demanding and long race, with a lot of wind and swell. For me, a speed athlete, it's even tougher. We led for a long time. We were the target to beat because we were the titleholders, but we managed the race very well in a very competitive World Cup. Furthermore, we did three training sessions together, and we felt we had great potential to win the title back. The first medal came on Friday last week [August 26].Five medals in five events at two different World Championships. It's an unprecedented achievement, another beautiful page in the history of national sport. I'm probably one of the most versatile athletes, because from the marathon to speed I achieve excellent results."