Germany and Slovakia secure opportunity for extra Tokyo 2020 quotas.
Spain's Miren Lazkano took the gold medal in women's canoe event, while Olympic Champion Denis Gargaud Chanut claimed gold in the men's canoe final, on the final day of competition at the ECA canoe slalom championships in Ivrea, Italy.
Katerina Minarik Kudejova and Vit Prindis won the first ever extreme canoe slalom European titles, while Germany picked up the Olympic quota in the men's C1 and Slovakia the ticket to Tokyo in the women's C1.
The new European champion in women's canoe, Miren Lazkano, capsized before the third gate, but that did not throw her out of the game as she continued with strong pace to win her first individual medal at senior European championships, and her first gold medal.
So far, she won a silver and bronze medal in team events. The paddler from San Sebastian was 0.36 seconds faster than Czech Tereza Fiserova, while German Elena Apel took the bronze medal.
Lazkano cried after she realised what she has achieved.
"I was not expecting this at all. I rolled over in third gate, but then I thought it's now or never. I found strength and went for it. I am really happy and relieved. I have to thank everyone who helped me," she said.
On the very technical and demanding course French canoeist
Denis Gargaud Chanut showed the best final run to celebrate the European champion title, the only gold missing in his collection until now. He is the 2016 Olympic champion and 2011 world champion.
At first when he crossed the finish line a 50 seconds penalty was by his name, and he waved in disapproval. Soon after the penalty was removed and he remained in the top position until the end of the race.
"Finally I won all three big titles in our sport, so I am very satisfied with that. But that doesn't mean I will lose my energy to win again, so I am looking forward to the next races," said Gargaud Chanut.
Slovak
Matej Benus won the silver medal and secured himself a ticket for the Tokyo Olympics in internal Slovak qualifications, while German
Sideris Tasiadis picked up a bronze medal and equally important won an Olympic quota for Germany.
This championships was also the European Olympic qualifier and it was Slovakia who won a quota for the Tokyo Olympics in women's canoe, thanks to
Monika Skachova. Even more intense was the fight for the men's C1 quota between Italy and Germany. Two Italian and two German canoeists qualified for the final, with
Roberto Colazingari setting the best time in the semifinal, so he started the last in the final.
Tasiadis was at that moment in front of Italian
Raffaello Ivaldi, so it was either Tasiadis or Colazingari. The latter did not manage to handle the pressure on home course and was ninth at the end.
After the canoe slalom championships was over, athletes started in the extreme canoe slalom race, the first ever European championships held in this discipline. Extreme canoe slalom was introduced to the European Championships programme this year after it was confirmed it will be a part of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Fellow Czech
Vit Prindis won his second European champion title of the week, following his K1 gold in yesterday's final.
Dimitri Marx from Switzerland was second and 2016 K1 Olympic champion
Joseph Clarke from Great Britain was third.
Words and pics NINA JELENC
