Fernando Pimenta claims bronze in K1 1000m at European canoeing championships

Portugal's first medal

The championships, held in Montemor-o-Velho until Sunday, had not seen any Portuguese athletes on the podium before Saturday's K1 1000m final. Fernando Pimenta, who represents Benfica, changed that by claiming bronze. His time of 3:25.316 left him 1.005 seconds behind winner Uladzislau Kravets and 0.305 seconds behind silver medallist Balint Kopasz of Hungary.

The fight for gold

Pimenta led for much of the race but lost ground in the closing metres. Kravets, a neutral athlete identified as Belarusian by one news agency and Russian by another, seized the lead and stopped the clock at 3:24.311. Kopasz, the Hungarian former European champion, crossed 0.700 seconds later. Pimenta's third-place finish ended his bid to defend the K1 1000m title he won in Racice, Czechia, in 2025.

A career landmark

The bronze raised Pimenta's career podium count to 182. His international collection includes two Olympic medals and four European titles across various distances (2016, 2017, 2018, 2025). He had entered the final as the reigning champion, making Saturday's bronze his first non-gold result in the event since 2024.

Pimenta's words

Speaking to RTP after the race, Pimenta acknowledged satisfaction but not joy.

I'm satisfied but not happy, because happy is when I win. I feel accomplished for getting this important medal. I want to bring joy to the Portuguese, and especially to the people of this region, after what happened earlier this year. First final, first medal, done.

More opportunities

Pimenta's European campaign is not over. He competes in the K1 500m final later on Saturday and the K1 5000m final on Sunday, with the chance to add to his and Portugal's medal count at the home continental championships.