Spanish paddler Teresa Portala, a silver medalist at Tokyo 2020, confirmed that she will not attend the national selection event taking place on Thursday in Seville, where the athletes and boats representing Spain in the World Cup, European Cup, and World Cup will be decided, questioning the criteria established by the Royal Spanish Canoeing Federation (RFEP). She criticized the lack of a coach for the women’s team since October, unlike the men’s team.
«After 25 years of dedication, effort, and commitment to my profession and the development of women’s paddling in Spain, and after just a few weeks since the final criteria set by the Spanish Federation were announced, I made the difficult decision not to participate in this selection event,» she said in a video on her social media.
The 42-year-old from Canguesa explained that it was «a very careful decision» taking into account «different circumstances.» «Firstly, the absence of a coach since the beginning of the season. From October to the end of February, no women’s national team was formed, unlike the men’s national team, which underwent training without the necessary technical support, without proper planning,» she said.
She also thanked the Xunta de Galicia and the Secretary General for «listening and supporting sports and trying to resolve this situation in March,» despite the lack of competition from the Xunta, but from the Royal Spanish Canoeing Federation.
Another reason for her resignation was the «selection criteria and personal consequences.» «According to the current criteria of the Spanish Federation, in order to be part of the K4, it would be necessary to qualify among the top 12 athletes with an individual boat. If this goal had been achieved, it would imply integration into the national team, whose base has now been moved to Seville,» she said.
«This condition does not contemplate it, it is impossible for me to have to move. And, for 11 years, every day meant a constant challenge to be able to achieve the proposed goals.
Finally, she acknowledged that she was experiencing a moment of «disappointment and surprise.» «In recent months, I chose not to speak publicly, to prioritize my training, and to try not to affect other people with my situation, out of respect and responsibility. Life is full of challenges and they all lead us to the next one, so I continue training, pretending to maintain the illusion in search of a new challenge. She concluded.
