Canoeing is one of the most exciting and challenging water sports there is, and Brazil has a rich history of success and achievement in this arena.
Over the decades, several athletes from Brazil have excelled in the turbulent waters of rivers and on the tracks of international competitions. That’s why we’ve created a list of the 20 best Brazilian canoeing athletes of all time!
These athletes raise the country’s name to ever higher levels on the world canoeing stage. From the first paddlers to the modern Olympic champions, the history of Brazilian canoeing is marked by talent, dedication and overcoming obstacles.
In this selection of the best Brazilian athletes in canoeing of all time, we will highlight those who not only won medals and titles, but also left a lasting legacy for the sport in Brazil.
Whether in speed, slalom or other categories, these athletes have shown exceptional skills in overcoming challenges
It’s time, then, to meet the 20 best Brazilian canoeists of all time!
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Top 20 Brazilian canoeists of all time: complete list
Before you find out more about them, check out who the 20 best Brazilian canoeists of all time are on the list!
- Isaquias Queiroz
- Erlon Silva
- Jacky Godmann
- Nivalter Santos de Jesus
- Ronilson de Oliveira
- Pedro Henrique Gonçalves
- Celso Dias de Oliveira
- Fernando Rufino de Paulo
- Ana Sátila
- Pepê Gonçalves
- Pedro Aversa
- Anderson Oliveira
- Beatriz Braga
- Rafael Girotto
- Gilvan Ribeiro
- Mathieu Desnos
- Charles Correa
- Yuri Moreira
- Anderson Nocetti
- Felipe Borges
Top 20 Brazilian canoeists of all time: find out more about them
Now it’s time to get to know the 20 best Brazilian canoeists of all time!
1. Isaquias Queiroz
- Titles: Gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, three silver medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, multiple medals at World Championships.
- Team: Associação Náutica de Canoagem de Ubaitaba (BA).
- Fun facts: He grew up in a humble family in Bahia and overcame many adversities to become one of Brazil’s greatest canoeing athletes.
2. Erlon Silva
- Titles: Silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, medals at World Championships.
- Team: Associação Náutica de Canoagem de Ubaitaba (BA).
- Fun facts: He had a difficult start in childhood, but found canoeing as a way of overcoming and succeeding.
3. Jacky Godmann
- Titles: Gold medal at the Under-23 Speed Canoeing World Championships.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama.
- Fun facts: He began his canoeing career at the age of 13 and quickly made a name for himself, becoming a promising Brazilian athlete.
4. Nivalter Santos de Jesus
- Titles: Gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games, several medals in South American competitions.
- Team: Clube Náutico Francisco Martinelli.
- Fun facts: A veteran of Brazilian canoeing, he is known for his technique and consistency in competitions.
5. Ronilson de Oliveira
- Titles: Gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games, several medals at World Speed Canoeing Championships.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: He started canoeing at the age of 16 and quickly became one of the best in the country.
6. Pedro Henrique Gonçalves
- Titles: Gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games, medals at World Speed Canoeing Championships.
- Team: Esporte Clube Pinheiros.
- Fun facts: He started canoeing at the age of 10 and since then has been a constant presence on the podiums of national and international competitions.
7. Celso Dias de Oliveira
- Titles: Bronze medal at the 2003 Pan American Games, several medals in South American competitions.
- Team: Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.
- Fun facts: One of the pioneers of Brazilian canoeing, he contributed significantly to the development of the sport in the country.
8. Fernando Rufino de Paulo
- Titles: Gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games, several medals at World Speed Canoeing Championships.
- Team: Clube Náutico Francisco Martinelli.
- Fun facts: Known for his strength and determination, he is one of the leading names in Brazilian canoeing in the kayak category.
9. Ana Sátila
- Titles: Medals at the World Canoe Slalom and Speed Canoe Championships, several medals at the Pan American Games.
- Team: Cascavel Regatta Club.
- Fun facts: As well as excelling in canoeing, she also competes in slalom and is considered one of Brazil’s most versatile athletes.
10. Pepê Gonçalves
- Titles: World Canoe Slalom Championships medals, Pan American Games medals.
- Team: Associação Náutica de Canoagem de Ubaitaba (BA).
- Fun facts: The son of canoeists, he grew up involved in the sport and has represented Brazil in international competitions since he was young.
11. Pedro Aversa
- Titles: World Canoe Slalom Championships medals, Pan American Games medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: He started canoeing at the age of 9 and since then has dedicated himself intensely to the sport, achieving significant results.
12. Anderson Oliveira
- Titles: Pan American Games medals, World Speed Canoeing Championships medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: Despite facing financial difficulties, he found in canoeing an opportunity to overcome and succeed.
13. Beatriz Braga
- Titles: World Canoe Slalom Championships medals, Pan American Games medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: She started canoeing at the age of 10 and has since become one of Brazil’s leading female athletes.
14. Rafael Girotto
- Titles: Pan American Games medals, World Speed Canoeing Championships medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: One of the highlights of Brazilian canoeing in the kayak category, he is known for his speed and technical ability.
15. Gilvan Ribeiro
- Titles: Pan American Games medals, World Speed Canoeing Championships medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: Despite getting a late start in canoeing, he showed natural talent and quickly achieved success in national and international competitions.
16. Mathieu Desnos
- Titles: Pan American Games medals, World Canoe Slalom Championships medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: One of the main Brazilian representatives in slalom canoeing, he is known for his refined technique and consistency in competitions.
17. Charles Correa
- Titles: Pan American Games medals, World Speed Canoeing Championships medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: He started canoeing at the age of 14 and since then has dedicated himself intensely to the sport, achieving significant results throughout his career.
18. Yuri Moreira
- Titles: Pan American Games medals, World Speed Canoeing Championships medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: He started canoeing at the age of 12 and since then has stood out as one of the main Brazilian athletes in the sport, competing in various categories.
19. Anderson Nocetti
- Titles: Pan American Games medals, World Speed Canoeing Championships medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas Flamengo.
- Fun facts: He started canoeing at the age of 15 and quickly made a name for himself, being recognized for his determination and technical ability.
20. Felipe Borges
- Titles: Pan American Games medals, World Speed Canoeing Championships medals.
- Team: Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.
- Fun facts: He stood out as one of the main Brazilian athletes in the kayak category, competing in various canoeing disciplines.
Top 20 Brazilian canoeists of all time: complete list
- Isaquias Queiroz
- Erlon Silva
- Jacky Godmann
- Nivalter Santos de Jesus
- Ronilson de Oliveira
- Pedro Henrique Gonçalves
- Celso Dias de Oliveira
- Fernando Rufino de Paulo
- Ana Sátila
- Pepê Gonçalves
- Pedro Aversa
- Anderson Oliveira
- Beatriz Braga
- Rafael Girotto
- Gilvan Ribeiro
- Mathieu Desnos
- Charles Correa
- Yuri Moreira
- Anderson Nocetti
- Felipe Borges
20 best Brazilian canoeists of all time
This is the complete list of the 20 best Brazilian canoeing athletes of all time! Knowing these great icons of Brazilian canoeing, we also recognize the importance of preserving and promoting sports culture in our country.
The stories of each of these athletes remind us that sport is big in Brazil and needs to be valued more and more!
If you liked this article on the 20 best Brazilian canoeists of all time, take the opportunity to check out our other articles and lists on this sport!
