Spain's most successful Olympic canoeist David Cal says his relocation to Brazil could provide him with the edge he needs to win gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Cal, 30, won a record fifth Olympic medal by taking silver in the C-1 1000m event at the 2012 London Games.

But following the appointment of his long-time coach Jesus Morlan to Brazil's national team, Cal said he had decided for a "change of scenery".

"Basically I will do here what I did in Spain but the difference is I will be where the next Olympics are being held so the place is important," Cal said.

"Apart from that, I trained for a long time in Pontevedra in Galicia and I think breaking the monotony will be good for me."

Cal, whose only Olympic triumph came in the C-1000m event at the 2004 Games in Athens, said it was too early to say if Rio would be his last competitive appearance.

He said he was relishing the chance to prepare for the Games with Brazil's improving crop of canoeists.

"Until 2007 I trained with a team but then I decided to train alone," Cal said. "Training with a team is great when it is good and really bad when it team isn't.

"The Brazilian canoeing team is very strong now and I think it's going to beneficial for everybody to have this exchange."