Lanzarote’s Marlines Canoeing Club Shines at National Championships
Axel Celmanti from Lanzarote’s Marlines Canoeing Club has made a remarkable return to the national spotlight at the LVII Spanish Olympic Sprint Championships held this weekend at the Trasona Reservoir in Asturias.
Competing at the High-Performance Centre in Murcia alongside the national paracanoe team, Axel has displayed exceptional growth in his sport. Following a commendable ninth place at the European Championships in Portugal, he arrived in excellent form for this crucial national event.
The competition kicked off on Friday afternoon with the Final A of the PV3 500 metres, where Axel delivered an outstanding performance, securing the silver medal—his first at a Spanish Olympic Sprint Championship.
Just an hour later, he was back on the water for the PV3 200 metres qualifying round, winning his heat with confidence and guaranteeing a place in another Final A.
On Saturday morning, he continued to impress, replicating his previous day’s success and earning a second silver medal, thus finishing the championship as a double runner-up.
These results underscore Axel’s extraordinary progress over the past year, establishing him as one of the nation’s top specialists. His collaboration with the Spanish national team’s coaching staff has clearly paid off.
Reflecting on his achievements, Axel stated, “Just a year ago, this seemed far off, and now I’ve come back from the Championships with two silver medals. I’m very grateful to everyone who has helped me, especially Club Marlines, the Spanish national team, and the CAR team in Murcia. This motivates me to keep growing and face the World Championships in Poland with enthusiasm.”
Axel’s season isn’t over yet. Following the national championships, he will continue training with the Spanish paracanoe team in Galicia, focusing on the World Championships in mid-August in Poland.
Club Marlines looks forward to his continued progression and hopes for international success. Axel’s dedication throughout the season reflects his potential and promising future in both national and international paracanoe.
The club also congratulated Javier López, who recently qualified to represent Spain in the upcoming World Championships in the K1 5,000 metres event. He added to his accolades by winning the K2 1,000 metres title and finishing as runner-up in the K4 1,000 metres, further showcasing his impressive sporting career.
