Bulgaria's Andrii Kraitor and Katniss Paris of the United States scripted history by becoming the first-ever 100m sprint gold medallists at the 2024 International Canoe Federation Stand Up Paddling World Championships in Sarasota.
Excitement was high among the SUP community as the event replaced the usual 200m sprint in Florida, and on Friday, it was evident why with some exhilarating finishes.
Kraitor, who stood on top of the podium at the World Cup in Agios Nikolaos and the European Championships, capped off a brilliant season by storming to victory at Nathan Benderson Park.
The multiple world and European champion in Canoe Sprint crossed the line in 23.05, 0.41 seconds ahead of silver medallist Manuel Hoyuela of Spain. Cameron Tripney of South Africa won bronze in 23.67.
Fans in Sarasota were treated to an American double in the women's 100m final.
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Katniss Paris won the gold medal with a time of 28.32 followed by Sey Chelle, who clocked 28.71 for the silver medal. An effort of 29.24 was enough for Alba Alonso to secure the bronze medal.
Italy's Cecilia Pampinella saved her best for the last in the junior women's category. She bettered her own time of 31.06 in the quarter-finals from day one to 30.92 as she claimed the title.
Hanna Kaminska of Poland bagged silver 0.84 seconds later before Pampinella's compatriot Claudia Postiglione finished third in 31.97.
Romanian Matei Barbu, who missed out on an inflatable SUP medal at the European Championships in Szeged in June, put the disappointment behind him in the junior men's 100m final.
After impressing in the quarter-finals heats on day two, Barbu clinched the sprint title in 24.22, with silver going to Nikolaos Malekakis of Greece in 25.47 and bronze to Spaniard Unax Etxeberria in 25.68.
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Great Britain's Anna Little shocked reigning world 200m sprint champion from 2023 Penny Tsaoutou of Greece in the masters over 50 women's 100m final.
Little crossed the line in 35.81, with Tsaoutou, who impressed on the first day in Florida, winning silver 0.50 seconds later. Dia Hatami of Israel took bronze in 37.39.
Germany's Peter Weidert and Spain's Marc Foraster were involved in a heated battle in the masters over 50 men's 100m gold medal race, with the former edging by 0.13 seconds.
Packet Casey's effort of 29.99 was enough to fetch the hosts the bronze medal.
After a superb display during the heats, Japanese star Ryohei Yoshida completed the task by cruising to the masters over 40 men's sprint title in 27.49, beating Romanian Victor Fedul, who clocked 28.22.
Tomas Lelovits, a world champion in the 200m in 2023, settled for bronze in the new event with a timing of 28.50.
Giannisa Vecco of Peru won gold in the masters over 40 women's 100m, beating Petronella Van Malsen of the Netherlands and Juliana Gonzalez of Argentina.
She clocked 34.94, 0.81 seconds faster than the Dutchwoman and a minute and 0.28 seconds better than the South American.
Pictures by Romain Bruneau.
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