CANOE EUROPE - Czech Republic did it again - four golds on the opening day in Ivrea

 

The 2022 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships in Ivrea, Italy, kicked off with team events and the traditionally strongest teams once again showed their excellence. Czech Republic repeated last year's success with four gold medals.

Last year's ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships was held in Ljubljana and Czech Republic dominated the team events with four gold medals and three silvers. They again hit the top podium position in four team events, but did not manage to get any of the other medals in the remaining four team finals.

It was women's part of the Czech team that showed power on Dora Baltea River. Antonie Galuškova, Gabriela Satkova and Lucie Nesnidalova took the first gold medal of the day after a penalty free run in women's kayak U23 event. Germany took gold and France bronze medal. Czech youngsters Klara Kneblova, Katerina Svehlova and Olga Samkova were the fastest in women's junior kayak event, finishing the race ahead of Slovakia and Spain.

In the afternoon, the dominance of Czech paddlers continued in women's canoe events - both in U23 and junior age groups. Gabriela Satkova, Eva Rihova and Tereza Kneblova were crowned U23 Canoe World Champions, while their teammates Klara Kneblova, Adriana Morenova and Olga Samkova took gold in junior canoe event. Italy and Great Britain won silver and bronze medals in U23 women's canoe event, while teams of Germany and Slovakia joined Czech Republic on the podium in junior C1 team event.

The host nation - Italy - was thrilled after men's U23 kayak event, where Leonardo Grimandi, Davide Ghisetti and Giacomo Barzon won in the tight final just 0.29 seconds ahead of Spanish team. France won bronze medal. The junior men's kayak event was won by Slovaks Ondrej Macus, Richard Rumansky and Filip Stanko. France was second and Great Britain third.

In men's canoe team events gold medals went to France and Spain. French canoeists Mewen Debliquy, Jules Bernardet and Adrien Fischer were the best in U23 event, where they had more than 12 seconds faster time than any other team on the start of this event. Poland was second, and Slovenia - the defending champion - was third. Markel Imaz, Marc Vicente and Alex Segura were the best in men's canoe junior team race. France was second and Germany third.

On Wednesday, the 2022 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships continues with U23 heats.

 

RESULTS

WOMEN'S KAYAK U23 TEAMS

1. Czech Republic 105.94 (0 penalty seconds)

2. Germany 106.98 (2)

3. France 107.58 (4)

 

WOMEN'S KAYAK JUNIOR TEAMS

1. Czech Republic 110.51 (4)

2. Slovakia 119.86 (2)

3. Spain 124.06 (10)

 

MEN'S KAYAK U23 TEAMS

1. Italy 93.15 (2)

2. Spain 93.44 (4)

3. France 93.76 (0)

 

MEN'S KAYAK JUNIOR TEAMS

1. Slovakia 95.21 (0)

2. France 98.22 (0)

3. Great Britain 103.01 (2)

 

MEN'S CANOE U23 TEAMS

1. France 92.32 (0)

2. Poland 104.53 (2)

3. Slovenia 104.66 (6)

 

MEN'S CANOE JUNIOR TEAMS

1. Spain 103.66 (4)

2. France 105.40 (2)

3. Germany 105.55 (2)

 

WOMEN'S CANOE U23 TEAMS

1. Czech Republic 104.10 (0)

2. Italy 114.50 (2)

3. Great Britain 115.33 (6)

 

WOMEN'S CANOE JUNIOR TEAMS

1. Czech Republic 122.36 (6)

2. Germany 138.51 (10)

3. Slovakia 139.24 (4)

 

Photo: Damiano Benedetto