Slovenia’s Eva Tercelj and France’s Mathurin Madore both broke through for their first kayak cross gold medals on an action-packed day of racing at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup in Augsburg on Sunday.
On a day when many of the biggest names in world kayak cross, including British world champions Joe Clarke and Kimberley Woods, and Australia’s Jessica Fox, were eliminated early, it was Tercelj and Madore who held their nerve to take victories.
Kayak cross will make its Olympic debut in Paris this year, with the final three Games quotas to be decided at next weekend’s World Cup in Prague.
Tercelj went into Sunday’s competition as the reigning world bronze medalist, and got a clear start while her three competitors got caught up jostling for position.
“I had an easy start compared to everyone else, so I just knew I needed to keep pushing,” Tercelj said.
“It’s my first ever World Cup win, so I’m super happy. You just never know what to expect in kayak cross.”
France’s Camille Prigent repeated her silver medal performance from last year’s world championships, while American Evy Leibfarth took the bronze.
In the men’s competition, Mathurin Madore looked to be out of the race when he accidentally flipped his kayak shortly after the start of the men’s final.
But the Frenchman kept his composure, and was able to capitalise on mistakes made by his opponents to take the lead in the second half of the race.
“My start was very messy, not just in the final, but all day,” Madore said.
“I found it very hard to get to first place early, but I also knew that there would be opportunities to make up positions later in the race.
“When I saw the two race leaders go to the same side of the course, I knew then that there would be a possibility they would get in each other’s way. Next I was in the lead.”
Switzerland’s Dimitri Marx took silver, with New Zealand’s Finn Butcher the bronze.
The kayak cross finals brought to a close the opening ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup of the season, with the athletes heading to Prague for the next competition, beginning Thursday.
RESULTS
WOMEN’S KAYAK CROSS
- TERCELJ Eva (SLO)
- PRIGENT Camille (FRA)
- LEIBFARTH Evy (USA)
MEN’S KAYAK CROSS
- MADORE Mathurin (FRA)
- MARX Dimitri (SUI)
- BUTCHER Finn (NZL)
For all the results from today's races, click here.
Full coverage of this week's event can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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