Brazil has earned a record number of quota places in Canoe Sprint for the Paris 2024 Olympics after a successful Pan American qualifier for the country in the United States.
Places were won in the men’s C2 500, men’s K1 1000, women’s K1 500 and women’s C1 200 at the Pan American Canoe Sprint Championships in Sarasota, Florida.
Having already earned an Olympic spot in the men’s C1 1000 at the 2023 International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Championships, Brazil has managed to win six quotas for Paris 2024 – a record for the South American country.
“We managed to achieve an extraordinary feat, guaranteeing places at Paris 2024 in the women’s C1 200, men’s C2 500, men’s K1 1000 and women’s K1 500 in addition to the men’s C1 1000 won at the 2023 World Championships,” said Brazilian Canoe Confederation President Rafael Girotto.
“Now is the time to focus even more and prepare for the Olympics.”
The first two quotas Brazil achieved in Sarasota came on the opening day of the Pan American qualifier when Jacky Jamael Nascimento Godmann and Filipe Vinicius Santana Vieira triumphed in the men’s C500.
There was delight for Brazil on day two of competition when Valdenice Conceicao Do Nascimento came out on top in the women’s C1 200.
Manuela Gomez Sanchez also sealed an Olympic spot for Colombia with a second-place finish behind the Brazilian.
Vagner Junior Souta ranked third in the men’s K1 1000 to earn another quota for Brazil.
The winner of that race was Matias Otero, stamping a Paris 2024 ticket for Uruguay.
Brazil had further success on the final day of the event with Ana Paula Vergutz earning a quota courtesy of a second-place finish in the women’s K1 500.
Vergutz finished behind Brenda Rojas who won an Olympic spot for Argentina.
“I am very happy to have won this Olympic quota,” said Vergutz.
“I want to thank the fans of everyone who followed this path as we have worked hard to achieve this result.”
The United States clinched an Olympic quota with Jonas Ecker and Aaron Small securing victory in the men’s K2 500 on home waters.
Mexico won a Paris 2024 place thanks to Karina Alanis and Beatriz Briones’ victory in the women’s K2 500 as they saw off challenges from Argentina and Canada to take top spot.
Chile also achieved a double-boat quota as Barbara Jara and Karen Roco emerged victorious from the women’s C2 500.
Jose Ramon Pelier Cordova crossed the finish line first in the men’s C1 1000, sealing a quota spot for Cuba.
The other place went to Canada after Connor Fitzpatrick finished second behind Pelier Cordova.
All the quotas secured at the Pan American Canoe Sprint qualifier are subject to confirmation from the respective National Olympic Committee.
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