Pedro Gonçalves da Silva

Pedro Henrique Gonçalves da Silva (born 12 April 1993 in Ipaussu), better known as Pepe Gonçalves, is a Brazilian slalom canoeist who has competed at the international level since 2009.

Early life Raised in Piraju, da Silva got interested in canoeing after seeing the Brazilian team that would participate in the 2004 Summer Olympics practice in his city. He joined a social project that taught the sport in the Paranapanema River and got moved to sailing for a year due to his low stature, but his abilities in the kayak soon convinced his teachers. Once moved from sprint to slalom, Gonçalves won his first Brazilian championship in 2011, and nearly qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics - missing the qualifying time by 0.13 seconds.

Career At the 2015 Pan American Games, in his first participation in Pans, he obtained the silver medal in the K1 category. In the same year, he won bronze in the 2015 World Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom Championships.

Gonçalves won a bronze medal in the kayak cross event at the 2019 World Championships in Prague. He also won the overall World Cup title in kayak cross in 2019.

Gonçalves competed at three Olympic Games. He finished 6th in the K1 event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the best result the country ever had in this sport. He then competed at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he finished 19th in the K1 event after being eliminated in the semifinal. He also competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, finishing 18th in the C1 event, 20th in the K1 event and 27th in kayak cross.

At the 2022 South American Games, he won two gold medals, in K1 and kayak cross.

At the 2023 Pan American Games he won a silver medal in the K1 event.

World Cup individual podiums

1 Although the K1 cross events were contested, no World Cup points were awarded 2 World Championship counting for World Cup points

Personal life He lives in Foz do Iguaçu, where he trains and studies physiotherapy.

Controversy During the 2016 Olympics, he made news for being brought by diver Ingrid de Oliveira to her bedroom, causing tension between Oliveira and her partner Giovanna Pedroso as both would compete in the women's 10-meter synchronized platform dive the next day.