On the banks of the River Lima in northern Portugal, a young Rui Lacerda first discovered his love for canoeing – a love that would carry him through personal hardships, World Championships, and the demands of a mentally challenging profession.  

After attending a summer paddle sport camp in 2001, he returned year after year. Over the six summers that followed, he spent long days on the water, the river gradually shifting from something vast and unfamiliar to a place that felt like home.  

What began as a simple holiday pastime with friends slowly deepened into something far more meaningful – a lifelong pursuit he has relied on for nearly 25 years. Despite Lacerda’s early passion for canoeing, his parents were hesitant to let him explore the river alone. Instead, Clube Nautico de Ponte de Lima became his gateway: a training ground, a community, and a steady, reassuring path back to the water.  

Now 35, Lacerda balances more than long summers on the river. He faces challenges on both land and water. Lacerda navigates two extremes: the relentless endurance of open water and the unpredictable intensity of emergency response, as a firefighter.  

“Risk exists in both environments,” said Lacerda. “As a firefighter, risk is part of the mission and often involves making quick decisions to protect others. On the water, risk is more about personal management and prevention – reading conditions and avoiding reaching the limit.”  

For Lacerda, the parallels are undeniable. Whether he’s scanning a smoke-filled room or studying shifting currents, both roles demand discipline, endurance, and the ability to remain calm when pressure peaks.  

“They both translate directly into each other,” said Lacerda. “What surprised me most was how situational awareness carried over – reading changing conditions and making quick decisions feels very similar on the water as it does a fireground.” 

In many ways, his profession and passion meet at the same crossroads: resilience. Firefighting and Canoe Marathon are pursuits that test physical limits and mental resolve alike. Each would be easy to walk away from when exhaustion sets in, or conditions turn unforgiving. Yet stepping back has never been Lacerda’s instinct.  

“In both activities, there are moments of physical and mental exhaustion, but overcoming those moments brings a deep sense of achievement and personal growth,” said Lacerda.  

For Lacerda, enduring discomfort is not about proving toughness, it is about progress. Growth, he believes, is found on the other side of strain.  

Above all the hardship, his love for canoeing remains unmistakable.  

“I love having that connection with nature, the feeling of being on the water, the rhythm of paddling, and the sense of freedom that comes with it,” said Lacerda. 

As a high-performance athlete, time is never on the side of the competitor, and Lacerda is acutely aware of that.  

“I know this phase will not last much longer,” said Lacerda. “I am officially a veteran athlete, and I understand that soon my performance will not be the same.” 

Rather than resist that reality, Lacerda is embracing it. He has begun transitioning into coaching, eager to share his experience, support younger athletes and remain close to the community that has shaped him since childhood.  

That perspective deepened at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Marathon World Championships in Gyor, Hungary, last September.  

In the days leading up to being crowned world champion in the men’s canoe double, Lacerda competed in the C1 long and short race - neither went well for him. 

“I was nervous, I felt empty, and I lacked confidence,” said Lacerda. “I ended up withdrawing before reaching halfway. I lost my strength; I didn’t have the ability to suffer in the most crucial moment.” 

He left the course feeling defeated. He called his wife and apologised for giving up. Her support steadied him. The following day, in the C2 race that had consumed his thoughts the day previous, he found the strength to endure.  

“We left everything on the water, and became world champions in C2,” said Lacerda. 

“That experience taught me that difficult moments and failures are also a part of success. Sometimes you must go through disappointment to rediscover your strength, trust the people around you, and understand what the sport really means to you.” 

Community, resilience and perspective – these are the currents that carry him forward. 

“I love canoeing far too much to ever walk away from it completely,” he said. 

And perhaps that is the truest measure of Lacerda. Not the medals, not the titles, not even the World Championships redemption – but the refusal to step away when the water turns heavy, when the fire burns hotter, when quitting would be easier.  

Some athletes chase victory. Lacerda chases the river, again and again, because it is where he learned who he is. 

And whether on a fireground or a start line, he will always return to the water.