The 2024
ECA I Feel Slovenia Canoe Slalom European Championships in Ljubljana - Tacen
continued with the kayak cross elimination phase. Young Swiss paddler Alena
Marx won her second gold medal of this European Championships in women's kayak
cross final, and Joseph Clarke (GBR) won his first European Champion title in
this event.
On
Wednesday, Alena Marx (SUI) could hardly believe she was crowned European
Champion in kayak cross individual race, which was a medal race for the first
time in history. Only a couple of hours later she again showed her excellence
in Kayak Centre Tacen near Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, and won her
second gold medal of this European Championships.
The
23-year-old paddler never won a medal at either senior European or World
Championships, now she has two, and the most shiny ones. Her biggest individual
success so far was bronze medal in kayak cross at last year's U23 World
Championships in Krakow.
"It
was incredible, it was really stressful. I was very tense, but it worked out
well. I am very happy," said the double European Champion. She thinks she
won her race already at the beginning, "I think it was the ramp. I was
pretty fast there and the first down, I was in front and after that I had
distance to the others."
In
Thursday's final on the Sava River, Marx left behind Camille Prigent from
France and Nikita Setchell from Great Britain, who were second and third
respectively. Italian Stefani Horn finished just below the podium positions in
fourth place. Prigent also won her second medal of the Championships, after she
finished third on Wednesday in Kayak Cross individual event.
While
Marx will receive her first senior Championships medals in her career at a
ceremony on Saturday, British kayaker Joseph Clarke is used to winning the
highest positions at the biggest international events. 31-year-old Olympic
Champion from Rio de Janeiro, won the last three consecutive World Champion
titles in kayak cross (2021, 2022, 2023), but still waited for the first kayak
cross gold medal at European Championships. So far, he had two kayak cross
bronze medals from Europeans in 2021 and last year's European Games in Krakow.
Today,
Clarke won the European Champion title ahead of Jan Rohrer from Switzerland and
David Llorente from Spain, while French representative Benjamin Renia finished
the race in fourth position.
"It
means a lot, having World titles it's always nice to back it up with the
European titles. Especially this year, being the biggest race of the season
apart from the Olympic Games. It's good to have a season off to a great
start," were the first words of the new kayak cross European Champion.
On
Friday, there will not be any competitions held due to expected high water
level of Sava River. The championships will continue on Saturday and Sunday
with slalom heats and finals in individual events and team races in all four
events.
Saturday's
and Sunday's heats will be livestreamed on Canoe Europe Youtube Channel, while
finals and team events will be live at Eurovision Sport platform.
RESULTS: https://siwidata.com/canoelive/#/splash/eca/2427
WEBSITE: www.slalomtacen.com
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