The Brazilian canoe sprint team achieved a historic milestone at the 2024 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Szeged, Hungary, claiming 10 medals across multiple events — the country’s best-ever result at a World Cup. The dominant performance positions Brazil as one of the main contenders for medals at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Among the standout performances were victories by Isaquias Queiroz and Jacky Godmann, who together and individually continued to establish Brazil’s legacy in sprint canoeing.
A Medal Rush on the Danube
Brazil’s medal haul included:
- Gold:
- Isaquias Queiroz – C1 1000m
- Isaquias Queiroz and Jacky Godmann – C2 500m
- Ana Paula Vergutz – K1 5000m
- Silver:
- Jacky Godmann – C1 500m
- Valdenice Conceição – C1 200m
- Bronze:
- Erlon de Souza – C1 1000m
- Ana Paula Vergutz – K1 1000m
- Mixed C2 500m Team
Brazil’s impressive podium presence spanned both men’s and women’s events, as well as mixed categories, showcasing the depth and balance of the national squad.
Coach Lauro de Souza Junior praised the collective achievement:
“This result reflects years of structured work, from grassroots to elite. Our athletes are ready — mentally, physically, and technically — to challenge the best in the world.”
Isaquias Queiroz: Still Leading the Charge
Olympic champion Isaquias Queiroz once again proved why he remains Brazil’s biggest hope for canoe sprint gold in Paris. His commanding victory in the C1 1000m, his signature event, came with a time of 3:47.32, beating competitors from Germany and Hungary.
After the races, Isaquias expressed his growing confidence:
“Every competition is a test toward Paris. Today was about control, trust, and preparation. I want to arrive in Paris in the best form of my life.”
Queiroz, who made history at Tokyo 2020 by winning gold, silver, and bronze across different events, aims to defend and expand his Olympic legacy.
Rising Stars and Expanded Depth
Beyond Isaquias, the World Cup saw the emergence of promising young talents like Jacky Godmann, who displayed maturity and speed in both individual and pair events, and Ana Paula Vergutz, who impressed with her endurance and tactical racing in the long-distance K1 races.
Brazil’s women’s program, historically less dominant, has taken significant strides thanks to:
- Increased investment in women’s canoe and kayak disciplines
- International coaching partnerships with clubs in Portugal and Spain
- Expanded regional development programs across Northern Brazil
CBCA President Sebastião Cunha highlighted:
“The medals are important, but what excites us most is the pipeline — Brazil now has young athletes winning and learning on the world stage.”
Focus Shifts to Final Olympic Preparations
Following the success in Hungary, Brazil’s canoe sprint team will:
- Compete at the Pan American Championships in June
- Conduct a high-performance training camp in Portugal in July
- Finalize the Paris 2024 roster by August
The French Olympic venue in Vaires-sur-Marne features a technical course that suits Brazil’s versatile paddling styles, and early reconnaissance trips by the team have already been completed.
Conclusion: Full Speed Toward Paris
Brazil’s record-setting performance at the 2024 Canoe Sprint World Cup signals not just a great result — but a movement of excellence, pride, and ambition.
With champions like Isaquias leading the way and new stars rising behind him, Brazil’s canoe sprint team is poised to make waves on the biggest stage of all: Paris 2024.