The 2022 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe
Slalom World Championships in Ivrea, Italy, concluded with exciting extreme
slalom events. This time it was France that was the most satisfied with two
gold and a silver medal.
Great Britain and Switzerland picked
up two medals each. Ukraine, Andorra, Slovakia and Germany were among the
medallists on the final day of the Junior and U23 World Championships too.
Gael Adisson competed at his first
ever Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships in French colours and he
reached the highest podium position in men's U23 extreme slalom final. Son of a
well-known French canoeist, 1996 Olympic champion and 1992 Olympic bronze
medallist Frank Adisson, will also represent France at Senior World
Championships in Augsburg later this month.
"It's amazing. It's my first
time in French team and I am so happy. It couldn't be better. It's really,
really amazing.""I don't even know what was happening. It was too
fast. Someone in front of me received a fault and I finished first."
"I won in each stage, so I
gained confidence during the race."
Etienne Chappel from Great Britain
was second, and the current senior extreme slalom European Champion Jan Rohrer
from Switzerland was third.
Just a couple of minutes later France
celebrated another gold medal after Hugo Monasse won in men's junior extreme
slalom final. To make the extreme slalom finals even better for the French
team, Martin Cornu picked up silver medal in this event. Serhii Sovko from
Ukraine was third.
Hugo Monasse was very happy after
becoming Junior Extreme Slalom World Champion: "I am so happy to finish
first at this World Championships."
"It was a big start, with some
complicated action, but finally I won with my big arm at the finish line."
In women's U23 extreme slalom event
Nikita Setchell from Great Britain managed to defend the title from the 2021
Junior and U23 World Championships which was held in Ljubljana. The 2018 Junior
K1 canoe slalom European Champion beat second placed Naemi Brendle from
Switzerland and Monica Doria Vilarrubla from Andorra to claim another gold
medal.
"I am really ecstatic. I didn't
think I'd get it again. Anything happens in extreme. It was really nice to get
it the second year running," were the first words of the new/old World
Champion.
"I didn't see many people
around. It was just go, go, go. There was a bit more contact towards the end,
but it was a really good final."
In the last event of the
championships, Evy Leibfarth won her second Junior Extreme Slalom World
Champion title, after being the best already in 2019. American, who is also
extreme slalom bronze medallist from last year's senior World Championships,
did not have much luck before the final day of the championships. She was
considered the main contender for gold medals both in junior kayak and canoe
events, but mistakes in both pushed her out of the podium positions.
"I definitely didn't have the
races I wanted to in slalom, but it happens. I am really stoked and on a high
note," Leibfarth said just after the race.
"I am super excited. It was a
tough fight all the way through the race. I am just super stoked that I got a
medal. It's super exciting!"
Zuzana Pankova from Slovakia was
second in women's junior extreme slalom event, winning her fourth medal of the
championships, while German Charlotte Wild picked up bronze medal.
France was the most successful nation
of the week, winning 12 medals, Czech Republic was second with nine medals and
Slovakia third with a total of seven medals.
The ICF Nations Cup was won by France.
RESULTS – EXTREME CANOE SLALOM
U23 MEN
1. Gael Adisson FRA
2. Etienne Chappell GBR
3. Jan Rohrer SUI
JUNIOR MEN
1. Hugo Monasse FRA
2. Martin Cornu FRA
3. Serhii Sovko UKR
U23 WOMEN
1. Nikita Setchell GBR
2. Naemi Braendle SUI
3. Monica Doria Vilarrubla AND
JUNIOR WOMEN
1. Evy Leibfarth USA
2. Zuzana Pankova SVK
3. Charlotte Wild GER
Photo: Damiano Benedetto
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