Brazil reveals canoe team for Rio 2016

Brazil selected five canoeists to compete at September’s Paralympic Games. 01 Aug 2016
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Man in a canoe in action

Brazil's Fernando Rufino has been named to the canoe team for Rio 2016.

ⒸMarcio Rodrigues/CPB/MPIX
By Brazilian Paralympic Committee

“All athletes are very dedicated and I see how the performance of each of them improves greatly at this moment,”

Brazil has named the five paddlers who will be part of Para canoe’s historical debut at Rio 2016.

In the women’s competition all eyes will be on Debora Benivides (KL2) and Mari Santilli (KL3). “I fulfilled part of my goal when I made the qualification for Rio. Now, I want to be at least in the top five,” Santilli said.

On the men’s side three-time world champion Luis Carlos Cardoso (KL1), Fernando Rufino (KL2) and Caio Ribeiro (KL3) keep Brazil’s hopes high to win one of the first medals in the sport.

Rufino will face very tough competition in the men’s 200m KL2 from Australia’s Curtis McGrath, who snapped Austria’s Mendy Swoboda’s six-year World Championship winning streak in 2016.

“My expectations are high, because I have a great crew, I strongly believe in their work and I have evolved every day as a person and athlete. And above all, I have a lot of faith in me,” Rufino said.

Cardoso, who could not defend his world title at the 2016 ICF World Championships and took the bronze medal, adjusted his training and feels ready to make a splash at Rio 2016.

“My coach, Akos Angyal and I are completely determined. At the World Championships [in Duisburg] we were able to identify points that could still be improved and we’ve been working on them. I believe in my performance and I’m very confident,” Cardoso said.

Brazil’s Para canoe national coach Thiago Pupo is also content with the preparation of his team.

“All athletes are very dedicated and I see how the performance of each of them improves greatly at this moment,” he said.

“We are ready for the Games,” Pupo added.

For more details on Brazil’s Para canoe team, please visit Brazil’s Paralympic Committee website.

Women’s team:

Debora Benivides (KL2)

Marti Santilli (KL3)

Men’s team:

Luis Carlos Cardoso (KL1)

Fernando Rufino (KL2)

Caio Ribeiro (KL3)

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Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs)

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.

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