2015 ICF World Championships Slalom
 
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2
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K1M
CZ J. PRSKAVEC
PL M. POLACZYK
US M. SMOLEN
K1W
CZ K. KUDEJOVA
DE R. FUNK
DE M. PFEIFER
C1M
GB D. FLORENCE
SI B. SAVSEK
GB R. WESTLEY
C1W
AU J. FOX
CZ K. HOSKOVA
ES N. VILARRUBLA
C2
DE ANTON/BENZIEN
FR PICCO/BISO
FR KLAUSS/PECHE

Para Canoeing

Brazilian paracanoeists confirm two Rio 2016 slots

canoe kayak para 2015 icf world championships milan italy results athletes sportscene rio

Article: Iran Schleder | Proofreader: Nick Harding - With seven medals at the Paracanoe World Championship in Milan and two newly-confirmed spots at the Paralympic Games; Team Brazil Paracanoeing have become serious contenders on the international scene.

Following their success in Italy this month and years of preparation, Brazilian paracanoeists are confident they are the 'ones to watch out for' on home soil in Rio next year.

Leading the charge; Fernando Fernandes (four times World Champion), Luis Carlos Cardoso (twice World Champion), Fernando 'Cowboy' Rufino (bronze at Milan) and of course not forgetting the rest of the squad who are on form.

In KL1 men Brazil earned two medals in the same event: Luis Carlos Cardoso (gold – 50.863) and Fernando Fernandes (bronze – 52.970); guaranteeing a place for the host country at the Paralympic Games.  Silver was won by Polish paddler Jakob Tokarz with a time of 52.533.

canoe kayak para 2015 icf world championships milan italy results athletes sportscene rio“A lot of people think life ends after an accident like mine, but it is the opposite, another kind of life begins after that. Paracanoe grows fast in Brazil and has proven to be a great sport for rehabilitation,” said Cardoso who was a professional dancer before his disability.

The second spot for Rio 2016 came from Fernando Rufino in KL2 men where he won bronze with 43.415 seconds. The world title was  defended by current World Champion Markus Mendy Swoboda from Austria (42.542) with the silver medal with going to ex-serviceman Australian Curtis McGrath (43.185).

“After the final race I sat down with my coaches and we discussed how to improve my technique. I know until Rio 2016 there is a lot things to work on and I’m sure that we have a lot o conquer until then”, explained Cowboy.

According to Carlos Bezerra de Albuquerque, Brazilian Paracanoeing Team Leader, the team's achievements are a direct consequence of the sponsorship received in the last few years as well as the development of the Paracanoe Training Centre located in São Paulo.

“Our Training Centre is known all over the world and I hope to grow even more focusing the Paralympic Games. Each international event that we participate in, we have got better results, so I think we are on the right track toward Rio 2016”, he said.

The Brazilian team that competed at the 2015 ICF Paracanoe World Championships in Milan, Italy, has the support of BNDES – the official sponsor for the Brazilian Canoeing, GE (General Electric), the Olympic Committee of Brazil, the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, the Ministry of Sport through the Sports Incentive Law and Insurance United.

Brazilian Paracanoe medals at the 2015 ICF Paracanoe World Championships in Milan:

Gold KL1 M – Luis Carlos Cardoso
Bronze KL1 M – Fernando Fernandes
Bronze KL2 M – Fernando Rufino
Gold VL1 M – Luis Carlos Cardoso
Gold VL3 M – Caio Ribeiro
Bronze VL3 W – Aline Souza Lopes
Bronze VL2 W – Debora Benivides