Olympians Sebastian Cuattrin and Sebastian Szubski have attempted to break the world record for kayaking in the Thames River in London from Saint John's Lock to Teddington Lock.
The duo’s 198.5-kilometre attempt, yet to be ratified by Guinness World Records, saw them paddle for 22 locks and run for another 22 by carrying the boat in 21 hours and 57 minutes.
Cuattrin, who is also the International Canoe Federation Global Lead for Flatwater, recalled a couple of funny anecdotes when asked about what motivates him to keep going at 50.
In 2006, the four-time Olympian’s doctor suggested that he should stop paddling to preserve his health due to the hernias in his back, a notion unthinkable to the then 32-year-old.
Sixteen years later, despite people suggesting he was too old to continue, Cuattrin took it in the right spirit, and it led to a daring solo paddle.
“I was an Olympian and I still paddle. It helps me maintain my health. It is my life and my love,” Cuattrin said, crediting his wife Regina, a physio, for helping him maintain his fitness levels and keep his hernias under control.
“Last year when I turned 50, people started saying I am old and to prove them wrong, I paddled for 150 kilometres on Lake Leman alone, without any support for 15 hours.”
This massive effort caught the eye of Szubski, who was also Cuattrin’s teammate at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Szubski, who already holds the record for the farthest distance (251.71 km) travelled by canoe or kayak on flatwater in 24 hours, decided to ring up his old friend and the rest, as they say, is history.
“He reached out after my adventure on Lake Leman and asked if I was interested in beating the world record on the Thames River. So, I started training for that,” Cuattrin continued.
“It’s a part of lifestyle. When you are an athlete, you will be angry at yourself if you don’t do any sports for a day.
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“That is my motivation and whenever I have time, I go paddling.
“I have started liking these sorts of challenges. These targets help you move forward in life.”
Cuattrin made his Olympic debut as an 18-year-old at Barcelona 1992, and went on to represent Brazil at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 edition of the Games.
At the Pan American Games, he won 11 medals, including gold as part of the men’s K4 team in Rio in 2007.
