With seriousness, responsibility and a lot of pride. This is how Omar Linares takes to canoeing and the Regatta, where today he will be regarding to celebrate 30 editions competing in Olympic kayak. “How many times did you get to Viedma Negro? In all of them…”, affirms this hero of canoeing from Río Negro, who at 61 years of age is still fighting.
The round number of his romance with this journey has a special character in this 2023 edition. Linares is a very believer, a large wooden rosary hangs from his neck and his shovel there is an essential figure of all Viedmenses.
“I am happy first of all for being there, and of course doing this recognition to our saint, Artímedes Zatti, It was a request from our mayor of Viedma, Pedro Pesatti, and from the bishop, with the legend “We all row with Zatti.” I am very moved by all this, the truth”, affirms the representative of Quimey Leuvú.
The patron of the city of Viedma was declared blessed of the Catholic Church by John Paul II and on October 9, 2022 he was declared a saint by Pope Francis in the Vatican.
“There are many sensations, the truth. These 30 regattas, do it with the image of Zatti, Being an Argentine ambassador for the Descent of the Sella and being able to open the doors of canoeing for future generations, are things that I am enjoying very much”, adds Linares.
The experienced paddler, despite the number of Regattas that he has already held, is encouraged that the number continues to rise. “Physically I am perfect. As long as the body continues to accompany me, I will continue to take part in this emblematic event”, affirms El Negro, who has one of the walls of the combi with which he mobilizes in the test, upholstered with images of each of the 30 tests he played.
Linares begins to go through each of the names with which he shared boats, although there are many in which he competed in K1, as in the current one, where he is in second place in the K1 master D.
“In all this list, the 98 is missing. That year many of us who encouraged the Regatta went to run one organized by the Gastronomic Guild.”
There are photos along with other boating legends like Juan de la Cruz Labrin with whom he ran in K2 in 2000, the mix he formed with Ana Navarro and with the well-remembered Jorge Scalesia great friend and companion of Linares.
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