Monday, July 31, 2023

First paracanoe gold medals at the European Championships to Hungary and Ukraine


 

Paracanoeists were competing in the first finals of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Portugal. In the VL finals, gold medals went to Hungary and Ukraine.

There were six VL events held on the first finals day of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, but only two were official European Championships events.

In men's VL2 200 metres final Robert Suba from Hungary took the gold medal and European Champion title. Local favourite Norberto Mourao (POR) crossed the finish line in second position to claim silver medal, while bronze medal went to Spanish paracanoeist Higinio Rivero. The defending European Champion from the 2022 Tamasz Juhasz was fifth this time.

The second paracanoe gold medal of the day in men's VL3 200 metres event was won by Ukrainian Vladyslav Yepifanov who was two seconds faster than his closest rival Markus Swoboda from Austria. Mirko Nicoli (ITA) won bronze medal in this final.

All the other races were non-official European Championships events, so no medals were given to the best. David Gonzales (ESP), Moritz Berthold (GER) and Carlos Carmo (POR) were the top three in men's VL1 200 metres event, and the defending European Champion Alessio Bedin (ITA) was just outside the podium. In women's VL1 200 metres race Viktorya Shablova (ITA) won ahead of Esther Bode (GER), and Ines Felipe (ESP) and Ellen Field (GBR) were first and second respectively in women's VL2 200 metres event. In the final race of the day, Nataliia Lahutenko (UKR) won in women's VL3 200 metres race, Anja Adler (GER) finished second and Justyna Regucka (POL) third.

On Sunday, the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in Montemor-o-Velho will conclude with 28 canoe sprint medal events and six paracanoe KL finals.

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