Portuguese Olympic canoeist, Fernando Pimenta, has won gold and silver medals at the 2017 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships held this past weekend in Racice, Czech Republic. This is his first individual world title.

Pimenta finished first at the Sunday’s K1 5000 race, completing the non-Olympic distance race canoe sprint in less than 20mins and 47 seconds, three seconds ahead of Germany’s Max Hoff and 13 seconds clear of Belarus’ Aleh Yurenia.

“This is my first title in an international competition, right after winning a silver medal. This is a day to celebrate. I know the Portuguese always want medals, but nobody wants to win them more than we do,” he told reporters.

A day earlier, Pimenta had won a silver medal in the K1 1000m competition, finishing just a few milliseconds behind German rival Tom Liebsche.

Vítor Félix, president of Portugal’s canoeing federation, praised the 28-year-old canoeist for his feats, describing him as a “super athlete”.

Vítor Félix, president of Portugal’s canoeing federation, praised the marathon canoeist for his feats, describing him as a “super athlete.” This is Pimenta’s eighth win in world speed races, including the 2012 Summer Olympics.

paj.staff