Great Start for Balearic Paddlers at the Paris Olympics

Spain and the Balearic paddlers made an excellent debut in the Olympic sprint events at Paris 2024, as all seven boats participating in this Tuesday’s session have secured a spot in the next round of the competition.

The Men’s K4 500, featuring Mallorcan paddler Marcus Cooper, was the first to qualify thanks to an outstanding race led from the start, which saw the team’s first head-to-head against the German boat. Saúl Craviotto led the team to hold off a final push and finish in second place, advancing to the final round on August 8.

Today, the Men’s K2 500 races were also held, and the Spanish national team managed to qualify both men’s boats and the sole women’s boat. Mallorcan Marcus Cooper and his partner Adrián del Río had to fight hard to make it to the semifinals, needing to go through the quarterfinals.

The Spanish canoes also hit the waters of Paris to show why they are favorites to reach the podium. Paddler Joan Antoni Moreno from the Real Club Nàutic Port de Pollença and his partner Diego Domínguez set an Olympic record, surpassed only by the Chinese duo, posting the second-best time of the day and confirming the great form they have shown this season. On Thursday, August 8, the Mallorcan will compete for a spot in the Olympic final.

On the same day, Marcus Cooper will vie for another medal in the K4 500 with teammates Saúl Craviotto, Rodrigo Germade, and Carlos Arévalo. On Friday, he will face the semifinals and finals in the K2 500 with his partner Adrián del Río.