Czechia’s Martin Fuksa and Josef Dostal got back to business after the euphoria of their Olympic success as they impressed on the opening day of the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Championships in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Just two weeks after winning their Olympic golds, Fuksa and Dostal returned to action hoping to capture world titles.
Fuksa has his eyes set on winning men’s canoe single 500m gold after capturing the Olympic crown over the 1000m distance.
The 31-year-old, who last won the men’s C1 500m world title back in 2017, breezed through his heat, clocking a time of 1:52.280 – four seconds quicker than second-placed Conrad-Robin Scheibner of Germany.
“It’s a little bit different than in Paris,” said Fuksa.
“It’s been 14 days since the best race of my career so it is not easy to be back on the course.
“But I like this sport and I won this heat so I am in Sunday’s final.
“It wasn’t easy training after the Olympics because there were a lot of press things to do.
“I like this sport so I wanted to come here to Uzbekistan after the Olympics.
“I am here, I’m ready and we will see what happens.
“I like 500m so I want another medal on Sunday.
“Every medal is important for me.
“I am a little bit of a collector of medals so I like them and I will do everything.”
Dostal had a busy opening day in Samarkand as he teamed up with fiancée Anezka Paloudova to seal a place in the mixed kayak double 500m final before advancing in the men’s kayak single 500m.
The newly crowned Olympic champion in the men’s K1 1000m looked strong over the 500m distance, getting the better of Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) Uladzislau Kravets in the semi-final.
Portugal’s Fernando Pimenta also made his mark in the men’s K1 500m as he cruised into the final.
“I think I did a very good race in the heat and semi-final and now it’s time to rest and prepare for the mixed K4,” said Pimenta.
“Every time I say after the Olympics, if I take medal or not I want to come here and fight for good results and give my best.”
Ukraine’s Liudmyla Luzan arrives in Samarkand after another successful Olympics having won silver in the women’s C2 500m in Paris.
Luzan won her heat in the women’s C1 500m as she seeks to win it for a second time after being crowned champion in the event in 2022.
She finished ahead of Chile’s Maria Jose Mailliard who won the title in 2021.
“I’m feeling good,” said Luzan.
“The goal was to go straight through to the final, so I am happy to do that.
“Everyone was preparing hard for the race as it is the World Championships.
“I respect all my competitors and I’m happy to win this heat against these strong athletes.
“This is one of my favourite races and distances, but I don’t want to say too much, I want to show what I can do.
“I decided to compete in this before the Olympics so I am here and I want to show myself.
“The Olympics is a different level in the sport and when you participate there, you fall in love with canoeing once again.
“I have three Olympic medals but not gold yet so I am still competing, and I will keep showing myself.”
The first races of the day saw Hungary’s Emese Kohalmi and Norway’s Maria Virik top their respective heats in the women’s K1 1000m.
China’s Xina Jiang and Hungary’s Giada Bragato impressed in the women’s C1 1000m to move through to the final as heat winners.
Germany’s Felix Daniel Frank and Martin Hiller and Sweden’s Joakim Lindberg and Martin Nathell posted the quickest times in their respective heats in the men’s K2 1000m.
The men’s C2 1000m heats saw AIN paddlers Zakhar Petrov and Ivan Dmitriev and Hungarians Balazs Adolf and Daniel Fejes come out on top.
Portugal’s Teresa Portela and Francisca Laia and AIN paddlers Volha Khudzenka and Maryna Litvinchuk powered through to the women’s K2 200m final after topping their respective heats.
Moldova’s Mihai Chihaia and Maria Olarasu won their heat in the mixed C2 500m before AIN’s Alexey Korovashkov and Ekaterina Shliapnikova took top spot in the next.
The first medals will be decided on Saturday.
All the results from today's races can be found here.
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