"It was a new beginning": After giving up their Olympic dream, Evaldo and Piedro take gold at the South American Championships
The red-black duo was on the verge of the Paris 2024 Games when they chose to help instead of compete.
By Paulo Neto - in
Flamengo brought excellent results from the South American Rowing Championships, with a total of 18 podium finishes: seven gold, three silver, and eight bronze. Among the winners, two Flamengo athletes took home more than just a medal: Evaldo Becker and Piedro Tuchtenhagen won the Lightweight Double Sculls (LM2X), a year after a decision that prevented them from competing in the Paris Olympics, when they chose to help out rather than compete.
In 2024, Evaldo (of Flamengo) and Piedro (currently a Flamengo athlete, at the time in the GNU) were very close to qualifying in the Pre-Olympic tournament held in Rio de Janeiro. The duo had the opportunity to seek a spot in a new qualifying tournament in Switzerland. However, on the eve of the competition, heavy rains devastated Rio Grande do Sul, the home state of both athletes. Faced with the tragedy, they made a difficult decision: they gave up their Olympic dream to provide humanitarian aid to those affected by the floods.
The athletes used boats to help people trapped in their homes by the floods, and then both volunteered at centers that housed the homeless. This noble gesture generated nationwide recognition, including tributes from Flamengo. Evaldo even received the Walter D'Agostino Award, given annually to athletes who stand out for their social impact and community engagement.
Now, a year later, the rowers were South American champions, in the same event in which they had been on the brink of Olympic qualification.
"Since I arrived at Flamengo, we've been working hard. In recent years, we've been reaping the rewards of that work. We won the Lightweight Double, which we narrowly missed at the Olympics. It was a fresh start. Very important for us, for our career. I was very happy, and we'll move on to our next goals," celebrated Evaldo.
Piedro also highlighted the symbolism of the victory: "It was a very difficult decision to forgo the pre-Olympic tournament, but it was something we had to do. Everything we've been through really resonates with us. We faced so much adversity, and going through a difficult process to reach the competition and win was very rewarding. I felt like I was honoring my state and the people who suffered so much from the flood."
Results
Rubro-negros also stand out in the Pre-Pan American
In addition to the results in the South American Championship, Flamengo also had an impressive performance in the Pre-Pan American Championship, a junior qualifying competition for the Pan American Championship in Asunción, Paraguay, which will be held at the end of this year.
Results
Lara Pizarro, who competed in her second Pre-Pan, also celebrated: "It was really cool to participate in the races. The boat we trained the most for was the Double, so winning this race was very special. Chile had a very strong boat and winning this race was incredible. Now, we remain focused on the Pan American Games; great things are definitely coming," she concluded.
