Brazil is bronze in the Va'a World Sprints 2016 in Australia

Monday, 16 of May 2016
By Bruna Corralo 

ZECAO WAS THE THIRD IN PARA DIVISION FOR ADAPTIVE PADDLERS

With 35 invited countries, over 2,000 competitors and 1,000's of spectators the Va'a World Sprints 2016 brought the world paddling community and the excitement of the world's fastest outrigger canoe sprint racing to Sunshine Coast. Brazil participated with 10 athletes from team “Canoa Brasilia” and won a bronze medal.

This event showed the world's fastest Va'a and one of these was a Brazilian guy. José Guimarães de Jesus Coelho, known as Zecao, participated in Para Men (VL3) - V1 250 meters, for adaptive paddlers. He was the third one and got the bronze medal.

Interviewed by Gringo Media, the athlete told the importance of this medal. “It was so important to represent the Brazil in this competition, and the medal came in a good time. I’m so happy to take the only medal for Brazil”. He also stressed the importance of the Brazilians for this achievement. “Many Brazilians who live here had been supporting us, and it had helped a lot”.

Zecao is 41 years old and has 22 years of in sport. He was the first athlete of the modality of Brazil. On your resume are 30 wins in the Brazilian champs, 5 in South America and one in Pan-American. On Va'a World Sprints 2016 he got the second best time of the world in semi-final, only behind of a Tahitian.

The team coordinator, Marcelo Bosi, said that this was an excellent result. “He has a long time in sport, but in K1 modality. With less than one year in the Polynesian canoe was a surprising achievement”, explained he.

For Carlo de Castiglioni Teodoro, another Brazilian athlete, it was the first world champs, and he highlighted the importance of Zecao for the team. “We were all prepared for the championship, but put into practice what you do in training needs to focus and calm. And that is the differential Zecão, he can do it very well, and taught us a lot. I learned a lot with him and with this experience. It was amazing”, told the athlete.

Besides Zecao and Carlo, another eight athletes had participated of the competition: 6 athletes of the male and 2 female from the elite of Brasilia, one master woman from Rio de Janeiro, and two men from Espirito Santo. They participate of V6 Elite 500 e 1500 meters, V1 open, V1 Master, Para 250 e 500, .V6 open clubs 500 e 1500 meters, and female V1  master and open 500 meters.

Zecao also competed in Masters category and in canoeing with 6 other people, where the team achieve excellent times.

This is the world Championship of speed Va'a category and happens each two years. This year had happened in for the first time in Lake Kawana.

The competition had a great impact on social media, especially in the Brazilian community in Sunshine Coast. The competition finished on Sunday, 15th May 16, and had an excellent Brazilians supporters.