In 2003, however, early-season results were not repeated at the world championships in Gainesville, USA as they finished out of the medals.

In 2004, with Dziamyan Turchyn now on board in place of Aleksey Skurkovskiy they won the senior European K-2 500 m silver medal in Poznań, Poland.

In 2005 a gold medal in the European final was followed by victory at the 2005 World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.

At the 2006 European Championships in Račice, Czech Republic, Abalmasau and his K-4 teammates did not defend their 500 m title, focusing instead on their least favourite distance, the 1000 m, which will be the only K-4 event at the Beijing Olympics.

In the 1000 m they took the bronze medal, again their best-ever showing, although coach Shantarovich said they should have won, accusing the crew of lacking a "killer instinct" in major championships.