Pan American Canoe Federation activities Q3 2025

The last three months have been marked by intense activity by the Pan American Canoe Federation (COPAC), new training fronts, expansion of the international competition calendar, and reinforcement of institutional dialogue with National Federations. The actions carried out between July and September demonstrate the entity's commitment to the technical, educational, and political strengthening of canoe in the Americas.

Growth in coaches and athletes

July began with the conclusion of the theoretical stage of the Canoe Sprint Coaches Course, promoted by COPAC over four months of training. The training covered essential topics for high performance, such as training planning, team management, use of sports technologies, and project sustainability, representing a major advance in professional qualification on the continent.

The month also saw actions aimed at grassroots development, with the mini-canoe event in Venezuela, in Guanta, which brought together almost 100 young athletes in training and evaluation activities. Also in July, young athletes from the Americas participated in the Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal, with victories for Canada, United States and Brazil.

Glory on the water in Paraguay and Italy

August was a remarkable month for continental integration. During the Opening Ceremony of the Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, COPAC was recognised by Panam Sports as one of the first entities to establish an official partnership for the development of the sport. During the same period, athletes from the Americas travelled to Milan, Italy, to participate in the World Championships in Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe.

The Junior Pan American Games, hosted for the first time in Paraguay, also marked a historic moment for canoe in the Americas, bringing together 101 athletes from 16 countries and showcasing the growth of the sport among young people. During the event, the COPAC Ordinary General Assembly was held, with the election of Jaqueline Emily Uguetti Mejía of Guatemala as First Vice President and the approval of strategic plans for the next cycle.

Ending the month with more championships, Asuncion hosted the Pan American and South American Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe Championships, bringing together representatives from 11 countries and big Olympic names. At the same time, COPAC followed the Pan American Ocean Racing Championships in Fortaleza and Caucaia in Brazil, as part of the traditional Molokabra Downwind, and the Pan American Canoe Polo Championships in Edmonton, Canada, expanding the continent's technical and sporting reach.

Canoe Marathon heading to Argentina and Brazil

The quarter remained intense in September, with participation in international competitions and institutional advances. The fourth stage of the Canoe Slalom World Cup in Slovenia saw medals won, reinforcing the continent's technical level.

Following this, COPAC announced that the city of Corumba, Brazil, will host the 2025 Pan American Canoe Marathon Championships, and celebrated the choice of Gualeguaychu in Argentina as the host city for the 2026 Canoe Marathon World Championships, the first in history to be held in South America.

The month also saw strategic meetings with federations from Bolivia and the Dominican Republic, discussing technical cooperation and institutional support. The ICF confirmed that the cities of Fortaleza and Caucai, both in Brazil, will host the Pan American stage of the 2026 Ocean Racing World Cup. In grassroots events, Olympic Hopes 2025, held in the Czech Republic, saw strong performances from the Americas. The tournament, considered the most important on the international grassroots calendar for the season, brought together promising young athletes from more than 30 countries. The countries from the continent that made it to the podium were: Brazil secured second place with 17 medals, including eight golds, six silvers and three bronzes, and Canada came in third with 13 medals including seven golds, three silvers and three bronzes.

COPAC also announced a new series of technical webinars on Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross, starting in October. COPAC ends these months by showcasing its mission to promote canoe with greater technical, institutional, and sporting development across the American continent. The latest news, results, and development programs can be followed on the organization's official website and social media channels.

By Sebastian Gomez, President of the Pan American Canoe Federation