The 2023 ECA Wildwater Canoeing
European Championships in Skopje, North Macedonia, kicked off with the
individual classic races, where France took three European Champion titles
thanks to Theo Viens, Maxence Barouh and Theo Viens - Nicolas Sauteur. Italy
won two gold medals on the opening day and Belgium one.
The picturesque Matka Canyon welcomes
the best European wildwater canoeing paddlers this week in the 14th edition of
the ECA Wildwater Canoeing Senior European Championships. France usually
dominated in sprint events, but this year they made a big impression already on
the opening day when individual classic races were on the programme.
Theo Viens (FRA) recorded the best
time in men's canoe classic event with 10:38.42 and won the European Champion
title. Viens was more than four seconds faster than his teammate Charles
Ferrion who picked up silver medal. Experienced German canoeist Normen Weber was
third this time, following the silver in this event two years ago at the
European Championships in Sabero.
Maxence Barouh (FRA) managed to
defend his European Champion title from the season 2021 and European
Championships in Spain. It was a close race this time, Barouh crossed the
finish line 3.75 seconds ahead of Simon Oven, Slovenian kayaker, who was the
2019 men's K1 classic European Champion and World Champion in 2018. Bronze
medal went to France as well, thanks to Quentin Bonnetain, the reigning World
Champion in men's classic event. Barouh was second in classic at last year's
World Championships in Treignac.
Viens had a really good day today on
the Treska River. In addition to his C1 gold medal, he paddled to the top
position in men's C2 event together with Nicolas Sauteur. French duo was a
little less than three seconds faster than their teammates Manoel and Tanguy
Roussin, while bronze medal went to Germany with Normen Weber, who also won
second medal of the day, and Tim Heilinger.
Laurane Sinnesael from Belgium was
the best in women's classic event, finishing the course 1.82 seconds ahead of
German Sophia Schmidt and 2.30 seconds ahead of Lise Vinet from France, who was
third. This is the biggest success in senior category for the 25-year-old Laurane
Sinnesael so far. She was fifth in the 2021 edition of the European
Championships in women's kayak classic event.
Italian Cecilia Panato was the hot
favourite for the gold medal in women's canoe classic event and she did not
disappoint. Daughter of legendary Vladi Panato, multiple Wildwater Canoeing
World Champion, won in women's C1 event with almost five seconds advantage
ahead of second placed Laura Fontaine from France, while her sister Alice
Panato picked up bronze medal.
Panato sisters joined forces in
women's C2 event and secured themselves a confident win. Laura Fontaine and Eve
Vitali - Gulbert from France were second and bronze medal was won by Czech duo
Kristina Novosadova - Karolina Paloudova.
On Thursday, the 2023 ECA Wildwater
Canoeing European Championships in Skopje continues with classic team events
and masters races.
WEBSITE:
LIVE RESULTS:
https://siwidata.com/canoe123/live?SessionKey=kosta.2023051700
LIVE STREAM (Friday's and Saturday’s
races only): https://www.youtube.com/CanoeEurope
Photo: Nina Jelenc
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