This Sunday will arrive at the closing ceremony of Tokyo 2020 Games and with it, the recount, 17 or 18 medals for Spain, and with the count, the certainty that in the last decade the country has stagnated in the Medaletero, and
, with that certainty, the always question: Is this model served?
The expansive model that Spain maintains since the Games of Barcelona 1992, that it tries to finance all athletes of all sports, it seems increasingly outdated and current successes point to the specific model, that with which it triumphs the United Kingdom and Netherlands
.
What does it consist of?
In seeing what sports you can get more medals and invest exclusively on them.
That policy usually involves injustice, sports that suddenly run out of resources, but if Spain opted for it there would be a discipline that many, many million: canoeing.
So far as century, that is, in the last five editions, no sport has given so many successes to the country, not even candle, and continues, and follow, and follow.
From Tokyo Games Spanish canoeing will leave with three plates, those of Maialen Chourraut, Teresa Portela and the K4 500, and the strange feeling that they could be more.
“They have been very successful games for Spain because, in addition, of the three medals, it is a lot of future, with several components of the K4, with Cayetano García and Pablo Martínez at C2, with Antía Jácome in the C1 … there are several projects
Interesting for the Games of Paris 2024 “, analyzes Carlos Prendes, who was Spanish pussy coach and who now trains the Belgium that has left Tokyo with a single diploma.
For him, the success of Spain has a single reason, what envy throughout Europe: “The basis that there is”.
“It is the key to success. In comparison with other countries, in Spain there is a very broad base: there are infinity of clubs, there are countless coaches, there are countless competitions and, of course there are very good references, as before David Cal and now
Saul Craviotto, “Exhibits Prendes.
With the data in hand, the 13,000 licenses of the Spanish Federation of Canoeing seem few compared to other sports (the Taekwondo, for example, has triple), but they are many if they are placed next to those of other countries.
Only Hungary can boast more and France, a similar figure.
Another thing is the money with which those practitioners tell.
After falling to 2.7 million before the 2016 Rio Games, Spanish canoeing has again exceed four million budget, but still does not have the facilities enjoyed in other places.
“In Spain there is no stable level of level workouts, a track of 2,000 meters, with a field of tall regattas. We have good training places, in Tranona, in Seville, in Pontevedra, Almeria or in Castelldefels, but not a
Stable track. In a dozen European countries, many of a level much lower than Spain, yes there is, “discover the technician and claim to the Superior Council of Sports (CSD) an effort in that regard.
If despite the deficiencies Spanish canoeing has won 15 medals in the last five editions, what would happen if I received a much bigger investment?
