Tuesday, July 12, 2022

European Canoe Association - France shines on the last day of the Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships


 

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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