Pan American Canoe Federation activities Q2 2025

The last three months have been marked by a series of advances, events and strategic decisions promoted by the Pan American Canoe Federation (COPAC), reaffirming the institutional commitment to the development of canoe throughout the continent. The actions involved international competitions, technical events, training, political articulations and relevant confirmations in the Olympic and Paralympic calendar.

April
The month of April began with the announcement of the venue for the Pan American Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe Championships 2025, to be held in Asunción, Paraguay, between August 26 and 29. The competition will take place on the same track as the Pan American Youth Games and will include junior, U23 and senior categories. The event will include parallel activities aimed at technical training, the exchange of experiences and the strengthening of continental integration. 

In the same month, COPAC was present at the I ACODEPA Gender Equity Symposium, held in Buenos Aires. Organised by Dr. Cecília Farias, honorary president of COPAC and vice-president of the ICF, the meeting addressed topics such as leadership, equity and visibility of women in sport.

The month was also marked by the ICF Canoe Slalom Ranking event in Piraju (Brazil), where athletes from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay demonstrated a high technical level and gave visibility to the sport.  

May
COPAC announced in May the official convocation for its Ordinary Assembly, scheduled for August 21, during the Junior Pan American Games, in Asuncion. The agenda includes the election for the positions of First and Second Vice-Presidents, as well as the presidency of the Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, in addition to analysing proposals for modification of the statutes. The organisation has published the names of the officially registered candidates, highlighting the statutory requirement of female representation on the Board of Directors.  

In terms of technical training, COPAC actively participated in the training and certification of 16 new continental Canoe Sprint judges in a course organised in Puerto Rico, in collaboration with the ICF and the local National Federation. The initiative also included a module aimed at event organisers, reinforcing the organisation's commitment to the professionalisation of the sport. Also on the educational front, a webinar aimed at the development of Paracanoe brought together more than 100 participants from several countries, in more than two hours of intense training led by ICF experts, in particular Fátima Fernandes and Mônica Hernández Carreño. 

May also brought important achievements in international events, such as the Canoe Sprint World Cup, held in Szeged (HUN). Athletes from Brazil, Canada and Cuba won gold medals, reaffirming the leading role of the Americas. Then, in Poland, the performance was even more impressive, with a total of 17 medals won by countries from the continent, including Chile and the United States. In the first three stages of the Canoe Slalom World Cup, held in La Seu (ESP), Pau (FRA) and Prague (CZE), the American athletes had consistent performances, consolidating the continent's presence in the main competitions of the calendar. 

The month of May also saw the appointment of Olympian Adam van Koeverden as Canada's Secretary of Sport. COPAC welcomed the appointment and reiterated the importance of having former athletes in strategic positions, capable of contributing to effective and inclusive sports policies in their countries. In the same period, the organisation institutionally supported the international conference, Dragon Boat Paleo is Medicine, organised by the Pura Vida Dragon Rosa movement and led by Dr. Don McKenzie, highlighting the positive impact of sport on the recovery of breast cancer patients.

June
COPAC celebrated the official confirmation of the presence of Canoe Slalom and Canoe Sprint at the Lima 2027 Pan American Games. The decision by Panam Sports represents another significant achievement for the sport of the Americas and reinforces the consolidated place of these disciplines in the continental Olympic scenario. Also in the same month, the organisation announced the Pan American Canoe Ocean Racing Championships, which will take place between August 22 and 31 in Fortaleza and Caucaia (BRA), as part of the Molokabra Downwind event, which will have three stages and representatives from 12 countries. 

Finally, COPAC celebrated another great news: Canoe Slalom will be part for the first time of the Bolivarian Sports Games, which will take place in November and December 2025 in Peru. The historic inclusion represents a strategic advance for South American sport, expanding competition opportunities and visibility for the region's athletes. 

All these actions reflect COPAC's ongoing commitment to the technical, institutional and sporting development of canoe throughout the Americas. News, results and updates can be followed daily on the organization's official website and social networks. 

By Sebastian Gomez, President of the Pan American Canoe Federation