EKAITZ SAIES

I have let a few days pass since the end of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to reflect on the results we achieved.

Based on the successes in Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016, as well as the historic results at the World Championships during this Olympic cycle, we expected to secure around two or three medals, with the potential for up to five.

In the end, we had to settle for two bronze medals and four performances that came very close to the podium (two fourth places and two sixth places).

These results were achieved across all four categories (Men’s and Women’s Kayak, Men’s and Women’s Canoe), which was one of the main objectives of this sports project: to be strong in all categories.

On the other hand, the commitment to team boats has paid off, and we have more medalists than ever before (six), which also means that there are more families and clubs celebrating these results.

Additionally, these two medals, plus the one won in slalom, have helped make canoeing the sport that has contributed the most medals to Spain in the Olympics.

Finally, in Paris 2024, another historic milestone was reached for our sport: Saúl Craviotto has become the only Spanish athlete with six Olympic medals.

Thank you to all who believed in this project from the beginning and to everyone who has been a part of it. These have been three exciting years in which we have managed to make history on numerous occasions.

Now it is time to focus on creating a four-year strategic plan to build the Olympic team for Los Angeles 2028, with the goal of surpassing the successes of this cycle.