“He’s like a Port wine” - that’s how Fernando Pimenta summed up his long-standing Canoe Marathon teammate Jose Ramalho after winning another kayak double title together.
At 43 years old, most paddlers, who have enjoyed the career that Ramalho has had, would be sitting back reminiscing about past glories.
But Ramalho is refusing to rest on his laurels. And, just like a Port wine, Ramalho is only getting better with age.
This year, Ramalho picked up seven major Canoe Marathon medals – one of his best seasons in a kayak to date.
The Portuguese marathon paddler earned two bronzes at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, completed a full set of medals at the European Championships on home waters in Ponte de Lima, and secured bronze and gold at the World Championships in Gyor.
Among those successes, Ramalho has Pimenta to thank as they powered to European and world glory in the men’s K2 this year.
As one of the oldest men in the field, it is a remarkable achievement for Ramalho, but he relishes the challenge of showing that age is just a number and wants to prove any doubters wrong.
“It’s always good to reach this age and still to continue to be at the front, fighting for titles,” said Ramalho.
“Twenty years ago, I could not have imagined that this could have happened, and I am so happy to be here battling with younger, promising athletes.
“Finishing with a world title – our fourth in a row in the K2 – is great for Portugal.
“It means a lot to us as a team and is a great personal achievement.”
Enjoying such longevity at the highest level in the sport did not seem possible for Ramalho after a rocky start to his international career.
Back in 2008, when he was aged 26, Ramalho quit top-level competition in favour of paddling with his mates.
But it did not take long for Ramalho to realise that he was a born competitor and needed to feed his hunger to fight for titles.
“I had a year of training without a programme and just paddled with friends,” said Ramalho.
“I didn’t compete in any international races at that time, but I soon realised that I missed competing at 100 per cent.
“It made me think that I am a guy who loves to compete, so I will go for it.
“With a good support network behind you, with friends and a wife who always gives everything for me to be here at 100 per cent, that is the most important thing.”
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Following his return with his renewed determined, Ramalho achieved his first major medals in the men’s kayak single with silver at the European Championships and bronze at the World Championships.
Ramalho has since ranked up 30 international medals, including 14 golds, 10 silvers, and six bronzes.
There is a clear desire to win a medal in every marathon race he participates in.
At the recent World Championships in Gyor, Ramalho secured a bronze in the men’s K1 short race but was left disappointed when he did not finish the men’s K1 long distance.
“I was feeling so good in the warm-up and at the beginning of the race, where everything was going so well,” said Ramalho.
“But then, suddenly, it was a mess.
“I didn’t have the right mentality.
“It was a real mess on the island, and it shocked me.
“I couldn’t change and just click back into warrior mode and just go for it.
“I couldn’t.
“I was going backwards, my head was a mess. I was so disappointed.”
This result only fuelled Ramalho’s motivation even more as he bounced back to capture a fourth successive men’s K2 crown with Pimenta.
“After I quit, I was very disappointed with myself,” Ramalho continued.
“I went to the hotel and I had an extra focus for the K2 the next day.
“I was really focused on doing a tremendous race in the K2 and trying to get a gold.
“I went with this mentality, and we managed to beat the other crews, which were really strong. It was fantastic.”
Leaving Gyor with gold and bronze medals in his bag, Ramalho is already setting himself goals for next year as he looks to add to his collection.
Ramalho is excited to have an opportunity to repeat his European success and compete at the 2026 World Championships in Gualeguaychu, Argentina.
“I love the challenge,” said Ramalho.
“When things are not challenging enough for me, I lose my focus.
“But I just love competing and training.
“I live for kayaking.”
With his performances continuing to improve and his passions for the sport only gaining in strength, it is clear Ramalho is not slowing up in his 40s.
In fact, he is getting stronger.
“I don’t like to say that I should stop in the next years,” said Ramalho.
“I just go for one more year and then one more year.
“It depends on how I perform, and I think I am still performing.
“To get seven international medals in a season is one of my best years of my career, so I just want to keep going and see what happens.
“I am like a wine, and this bottle is still going.”
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