Iran Schleder | Sportscene - Recently, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) surprised everyone by announcing the hiring of the Spanish coach Jesús Morlán, who holds five Olympic medals and ten world medals in his outstanding resume. Morlán’s hiring is consistent with the actions executed by COB and the Brazilian Canoe Confederation in their unrelenting pursuit of an Olympic medal for Brazilian Canoeing.

As Spain’s coach, Morlán took paddler David Cal to five medals at the last three Olympic Games (one gold and four silvers) and consequently became the Spanish athlete with the largest number of medals in the sporting history of his country. David is also coming to Brazil to train with Morlán. In the Brazilian Team, the coach will oversee young Sprint Canoe talents like Erlon Silva and Ronilson Oliveira who represented Brazil in London 2012; Nivalter Santos, who competed in Beijing 2008 and Isaquias Queiroz, recent junior world Champion; along with many other young talents.

Interviewed right after confirmation of his hiring, Morlán talked about his expectations of Brazil in the next few years and the kind of work he intends to do with Brazilian Canoeing. The trainings will be held at the Canoe Sprint Training Centre located at the Yacht Club Paulista and is sponsored by BNDES through the Sports Incentive Law of the Brazilian Sport Ministry.

What is your opinion about Latin American Canoeing?
Morlán: Slowly, the continent is gaining its spot in the international scene, but still has a long way to go. In Latin America there are a lot of young athletes with good potential who can improve quickly and be able to compete at the same level as the traditional countries in our sport. 

In your opinion, what are the main aspects which could benefit Brazilian Canoeing regarding the proximity of the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016?
Morlán: Brazil has now an enviable position in the world, because it is a country moving forward and the fact that Rio will be hosting the next Olympic Games will be the definitive push for the Brazillian Sport. In Canoeing today, there exists a great group of ambitious athletes who are working hard to get the best results in the history of the Games for Brazil.  

What do you expect of your life in Brazil?
Morlán: I expect to enjoy working hard with a group of committed athletes. I also hope to live like a Brazilian and have an unforgettable experience in the next few years.   

What are the main objectives of Canoeing in Latin America?
Morlán: My focus is strictly on the Brazillian Team and not about the entire Continent. My mission here is to get athletes to qualify for the Games and to achieve their best results.

How do you propose to achieve these objectives?
Morlán: Working. I don’t know any other method to get there. I expect the athletes to understand that they have to work very hard because their coach will be doing twice as much. Also, it is important to have a complete database of each athlete and to produce a record of performance for them in order to identify the individual and collective progress.

What do you expect from David Cal in Brazil?
Morlán: I hope David enjoys his fifth Olympic Games and tries to get his sixth medal. For the Brazilian Team, he will be important as a second coach teaching the young the right way and being an example for them. David will be like an invisible coach who helps the team, encouraging them on and of the water for their best results.

What do you expect from the Brazilian Team this year?
Morlán: This season is a little bit different because a normal season consists of 48 weeks of training and from my arrival until the next World Championship we will have only 20 weeks for training. This is something that I´m concerned about. I think that this year is essential to collect the athlete’s performance data and to know all about the whole team. The 2014 season will be the right moment to show ourselves internationally as a team ready to compete at the best level worldwide.

What do you expect from Brazil in the Olympic Games in Rio 2016?
Morlán: A medal! We have a Team and athletes with quality, talent and future. Although today we are far from that medal, I know we can get it. That´s why I accepted the CBCa and COB offer.