John Gregory | @gregiej | Sportscene - Back in October I described the Brazilian Canoe Slalom team as a young, highly passionate and motivated team who don’t give up and with their up and coming junior development have high expectations for the future.

They are already delivering. Ana Sátila celebrated a commanding win to become Junior World Champion in K1W at the Penrith Whitewater Centre. Here is what she said to Sportscene at the finish line; “I cannot believe it. It is a dream. I am so happy. ” It was the fastest run from a K1W Junior paddler and more than 7 seconds ahead of local Kate Eckhardt who took the silver for Australia. Ana’s run was 116% of Austria’s new K1M Junior World Champion, Mario Leitner and would have placed her 5th in the K1W U23!

While it was the team’s only individual medal there were many notable qualifications for the semi-final and finals.

• Pedro da Silva finished 9th in K1M U23
• Maicon de Borba & Carlos Moracs finished 7th in C2 Junior
• Wallam de Carvalho & Welton de Carvalho 9th in C2 Junior
• Anderson Oliveira & Charles Correa 5th in C2 U23
• Ana Sátila 4th in C1W Junior

For me the 5th place for the K1M U23 Team showed the depth of performance in this strong international field. The team also included new members at their first Junior Worlds again reinforcing the excellent junior development.  

Technical coach, Guillermo Diez-Canedo agrees that the whole team is growing. “We're happy not only because our World champion, also because the attitude of the whole team is getting more and more professional. We can see how our oldest (very young though!) athletes are growing up in their racing behaviour, and that drags the youngest ones with them. That makes me even happier.  Anyway, we know we still have a lot to do. We can't stop here!”

It will be a delight to see the next Junior & U23 Worlds taking place in Brazil at Foz do Iguaçu in 2015. In the meantime, expect many of the same athletes to be stronger again at the Deep Creek Senior Worlds in September. They have clear aspirations to represent their country at the Rio Olympics and push for qualification to the finals.

Final thought; there is a very high historical correlation between Junior World Champions and future Olympic medalist, so keep watching.