• Leader Saúl Craviotto: the balances between his advertising boom and canoeing
  • Substituted: Christian Toro, from 'tronista' to Olympic gold without vice versa

In the fall of 2017, Saúl Craviotto won Masterchef Celebrity and, four Olympic medals later - two of them gold -, he discovered the fame: sponsorships (Adolfo Domínguez, Danone, Reebook, San Miguel, Rowenta, Heinz ...), the selfies in the streets of Gijón, the interviews ...

In the autumn of 2017, Carlos Arévalo swore a flag and, after entering the Troce Training Center number 1 of Cáceres, made the military: the 20-kilometer marches around the Salor reservoir, combat instructions, shooting exercises ...

Two years later, they both work to get into the K4 500, which is completed by another Olympic champion Marcus Cooper, and a world champion, Rodrigo Germade. Arévalo is the latest addition to the Dream Team of Spanish canoeing after a time of anxiety of the group. The personal problems of one of its members, Cristian Toro, who ended up retiring due to “lack of motivation”, led the team to fifth place in the Duisburg World Cup and last place in the Minsk European Games, but they already promise to come back . Despite the two short months they have had to join Arévalo, in the World Cup that begins today in Szeged (Hungary) they hope to return to excellence. The last two years were proclaimed runners-up of the world only behind Germany and, on the way to the Tokyo 2020 Games, the podium is again a self-imposed requirement.

«Getting on a canoe that has been running for years is not easy. You have to adapt yourself, not everyone else will change. Saul, for example, has a breadth of brutal shovel, the blade sinks much more than me, and I have had to get used to it. But I think I have succeeded. We have all worked hard, very much, both in the water and in the video room to make the process fast and now the boat runs, the sensations are very good. A period of joys is coming, you feel in training, ”announces Arévalo who is facing the opportunity of his life.

Outside Rio, inside the Army

Born on December 6, 1993 in Betanzos - «There or you go to the river or go to football» -, he began to kick out imitating his older brother, he stood out in lower categories and in 2011, at age 18, he joined another Galician, Toro, with an ambitious goal: the 2016 Rio Games. For several seasons in the K2 200 they were the coming Olympic medalists, a more than promising couple, but just eight months before the appointment, the Federation technicians Spanish concluded that Toro would be Craviotto's ideal couple and Arévalo was left alone. With just one call, his future blurred. Before the Rio Games the paddler had a desperate attempt, the place in the K1 200, but in the selective confirmed what he already warned, that defeating Craviotto is practically impossible, and ended up seeing the cataract of Spanish canoeing medals by television.

«It was hard for me to take it, I won't tell you no. During the Games and, above all, after the Games. At the beginning of the season I saw myself in no man's land, without a clear project, and I wanted to secure a future. Since childhood I had always liked the Army for the values ​​it conveys, I had always been called the military life, so I decided the step, ”says Arévalo about the decision that changed her life. In August 2017, he swore a flag, in December the instruction ended and in January he requested the transfer to the Prince Infantry Regiment number 3 of the Cabo Noval quartering in Asturias. In that period, he spent six months without touching a canoe, but on the way back he discovered that something was different.

By combining his office work in the Regiment with training at the Trasona Sports Technification Center, he found himself better than ever and this April, his time came. In the selective selection of Spanish canoeing every year, he beat Carlos Garrote, current world champion, in the K1 200, and climbed into the K4 500 as the first reserve. If someone failed or even if someone lowered the level, Arevalo would replace him in just a few weeks. Toro's resignation only advanced a process that could have taken place equally and which, at the same time, is not yet final. Whatever happens in this World Cup, even if Spain returns with a gold, next year Craviotto, Arévalo, Cooper and Germade will be demanded again and, if there is someone in better shape, relieved.

“The demand is maximum, but there are only Olympic champions and world champions here. I believe that Army discipline has helped me in sport, it has given me security. In addition, they make it very easy for me to complete the workouts and be in the competitions. I know that it is difficult to do a military career while I am canoeing, but I do not think about that now, maybe I opt for the Civil Guard later. In any case, I want to take advantage of this opportunity in canoeing ”, concludes Arévalo that after the series on Thursday (5.15 pm) and the semifinals on Saturday (5.18 pm), Sunday at the World Cup final (13.21 hours, TDP) could Climb to your first absolute podium.

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