Great progress was made by paddlers on and off the water as the International Canoe Federation delivered successful development camps in Poland and Portugal.
Many of the participants selected for the ICF’s Talent Identification Programme (TIP) featured in both as they learnt from the best in the business.
Paddlers got the opportunity to rub shoulders with the world’s top kayakers and canoeists and competed on the global stage.
After the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Poznan, a total of 17 paddlers from Angola, Colombia, Egypt, India, Nigeria, Peru and the Philippines came together in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on May 26.
The three-week training programme, led by ICF’s Global Lead: Flatwater, Sebastian Cuattrin, ran until June 16 as participants were put to the test.
Sessions introduced interval-based training for speed and endurance, compound exercises with weights to build strength and workshops to improve technical and tactical skills.
Intensity was increased as paddlers were put through individual time-trials before competing in the International Regatta in Bydgoszcz on June 14 and 15.
Using speedboats, coaches were able to observe athletes in motion, allowing them to provide direct, personalised feedback that improved the athletes’ performance.
The trainers from the respective guest countries also participated in courses conducted by expert coaches from the ICF.
Among the coaches were Polish Olympic medalists Beata Mikolajczak-Rosolska and Paweł Baraszkiewicz, as well as Sebastián Szubski who represented Brazil at the Olympic Games Athens 2004.
They conducted technical workshops that significantly contributed to the learning process and played a crucial role in motivating the athletes and coaches who participated in the camp.
Germany’s three-time Olympic champion Sebastian Brendel joined the coaching team in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal, as the development camp was held alongside the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships from July 23 to 27.
A total of 22 paddlers and nine trainers from Angola, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Peru and the Philippines got the chance to work with Brendel and the rest of the expert coaches.
“The successful delivery of the TIP camps in Poland and Portugal underlines the ICF’s commitment to providing the best opportunities for paddlers from across the world,” said ICF Vice President Dr Cecilia Farias.
“It’s essential that we continue to support their development and, particularly, strive to empower female athletes and encourage women coaches from these nations.
“To have someone of Sebastian Brendel’s great calibre involved in the TIP is a fantastic inspiration for all these athletes as they continue to grow both on and off the water.
“It’s great to see Sebastian transition to being a coach, and I would like to see female athletes do the same.
“I would encourage more women coaches to help strengthen gender equity across our sport.”
Paddlers in Montemor-o-Velho also starred at the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships with several strong performances in the heats and semi-finals, and some advanced to C and B finals.
Herlin Lali of Indonesia placed third in the women’s canoe single U23 500m B final and fifth in the women’s C1 U23 200m B final.
India’s Gyaneshwar Philem joined forces with Arvind Verma to seal seventh in the men’s canoe double U23 500m B final, where Janus Ercilla and Neljohn Fabro of the Philippines also featured.
“It was my first time competing in the U23 World Championships, and it was a really good experience,” said Ercilla.
“I have made good improvements, especially with my technique.
“It was a pleasure to work with coaches like Sebastian Brendel. It was the moment of a lifetime. In the Philippines, we don’t have opportunities like this.”
Angola’s Domingos Pacavira was also among the paddlers who benefitted from both TIP camps in Poland and Portugal.
“It’s been a unique experience because every time I have been a part of the TIP camps, I have been improving, so my goal now is to keep getting better,” said Pacavira.
“I feel like one of the best in the world because I’m in a training camp being coached by one of the best athletes, which is inspiring. It’s been amazing.”
Colombia’s Sandra Castro added: “The opportunity to be in this camp has given me a lot of knowledge, and I feel like my technique and strength have improved.
“I feel well supported and I am happy.
“I am very thankful to all the coaches, especially Marlenis Roman de la Tour, because she has given me great advice on my technique.”
Cuattrin led the expert coaching team that featured Brendel, Csaba Szanto, Isaac Villa Santos, Marlenis Roman de la Tour and Diogo Evangelista.
“It’s a beautiful experience to work with these athletes,” said Villa Santos.
“This is the best opportunity and best workplace to develop in canoeing.
“I’m very satisfied with the work that we did with them.
“Sebastian Brendel is a hero in canoeing, and they all have their eyes and ears wide open when they receive information from him.”
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