Swirling conditions and salt water presented a new challenge for many of the competitors as they rolled through the first day's preliminary stages at the Aquece Rio International Canoe Sprint Challenge, the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games Test Event that runs from the 4-6 September.

As competitive action got underway, the conditions were a hot topic for many athletes as they completed the opening stages.

"This kind of water it's not easy to find the movement. This is mixed water, salt and fresh, which is very different to what Europeans are used to paddle," said, the 2008 Olympic champion, Attila Vajda (HUN).

Located in the heart of Rio’s south zone, the Lagoa Lagoon provided a stunning backdrop, but is also susceptible to quick changes in on-water conditions and unpredictable winds, a point Vajda was keen to emphasise. 


"This morning the conditions were ok, now it's almost noon and it's really windy and with big waves. We'll have to change our tactics for next year and train in a different way."

"If I have to say something about this course it's nice, but not good. It's a really nice area in the mountains, with the ocean close, but for the Olympics the conditions will be tough."

The 32-year-old three-time Olympian is now in the twilight of his career but still harbours ambitions of stepping on the podium at Rio 2016.

"I have almost finished in the sport and Rio might be my last event. I know if I can do what I can I'll be somewhere in the front. Ok, not one hundred percent I can be in the first three, but I hope."

If he is to add to his tally of two Olympic medals in the C1M 1000m (2004 bronze, 2008 gold) he will, likely, need to overhaul 2012 Olympic gold medallist, Sebastian Brendel (GER), and a host of up-and-coming young talent.

Tomorrow's champions

Spearheading that new wave of canoe talent is the Czech Republic's Martin Fuksa, who had a more positive responce on the morning's conditions.

"I think the conditions were good, just the wind from the front is very hard for me, but I am in the final so it's perfect.

"I enjoy Rio and the statue [Christ the Redeemer] looking down and everything round here is great. It was my goal to qualify to the Olympics and I did that in Milan. Here it's mainly just a test for me."

The 22-year-old is in a rich-vein-of-form after winning gold in the C1M 500m, and silver over the 1000m distance at the recent world championships in Italy.

Another close on Fuksa's heels is local hero, Isaquias Queiros Dos Santos (BRA).

"Maybe now we can understand now how he developed his technique," said Vajda, referring to Dos Santos' distinctive speedy and powerful stroke.

"These kind of waters you cannot do the normal technique. We have to be a little shorter and stronger, because we must be stable in the boat and fix our position."

It's clear that the Hungarian team will leave little to chance when they return next August.

"We came here to test," continued Vajda. "Now we have written a lot of things about the course and the conditions. The hardest thing will be to find the right training system to be successful here.”

It is clear that conditions in Rio will challenge the best; but it is also clear that the best nations can, and will, adapt their approach accordingly.

Olympics are special

Despite being at opposite ends of their Olympic journeys, both Vajda and Fuksa shared similar emotions when talking about their determination to compete at the Games.

"I was in Athens, Beijing and London; the Olympics was my life. When I was 13 I said to my father I want to be Olympic champion and this was my goal in my life," said Vanjda.

He continued, proudly talking about the tattoo on the inside of his left arm, "This tattoo shows the important things in my life: the five rings, the Hungarian Flag, the canoe paddle, and the guitar."

Meanwhile, Fuksa looked ahead to a time when he hopes to compete with his younger brother on the sports highest stage.

"Maybe we will compete in Tokyo in the C2M. He is left handed and I am right so we will make a perfect team."

Certainly a Fuksa canoe duo would be an ominous prospect.

The C1M 1000m line-up for Saturday’s 9.00am final is (lane 1-8): Dagnis Iljins (LAT), Ilya Shtokalov (RUS), Vincent Slominski (POL), Martin Fuksa (CZE), Sebastian Brendel (GER) Mathieu Goubel (FRA), Attila Vajda (HUN) and Maksim Piatrou (BLR).