The dust has barely settled on an incredible and long season, but many Canoe Slalom athletes are gearing up for one final hurrah at the 2024 International Canoe Federation Hangzhou Super Cup.
Many of the stars who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series, including the final in La Seu last month, are back in action in China from October 11 to 13.
Here are six athletes to look out for in classic slalom, short slalom and kayak cross events in Hangzhou.
Nicolas Gestin (FRA)
Men’s canoe single Olympic champion Gestin will hope to continue his dream season after winning Olympic gold in front of home fans. The two-time world champion followed in the footsteps of the legendary Tony Estanguet as he stormed to the men’s C1 title in the French capital. The 24-year-old has been quiet in the World Cups since and will hope to bow out with a bang.
Giovanni de Gennaro (ITA)
The Italian reigning Olympic kayak single champion has a full set of World Championships medals and has also excelled in the junior and U23 age groups. This season was truly life-changing for the Italian, who was also crowned European champion in Tacen. He finished second overall in the World Cup circuit in the men’s K1, including a bronze in La Seu and in the absence of overall World Cup winner Anatole Delassus, he will be the man to beat in Hangzhou.
Jiri Prskavec (CZE)
The Czech will arrive in Hangzhou with a point to prove after a disappointing eighth-place finish at Paris 2024. Prskavec, however, saved his best until last after a year in which he struggled to recapture the form that took him to gold at Tokyo 2020 and won him the overall World Cup title in 2023. Despite not being able to create an impact in finals throughout 2024, he claimed first place in the K1 in La Seu.
Kimberley Woods (GBR)
Woods, representing Team GB for the second time at Paris 2024, won the women's K1 bronze medal. Later, as kayak cross made its Olympic debut in the French capital, she won another bronze. The mental health champion has made a habit of podium finishes this season and successfully defended her overall World Cup crown, making her among the most in-form athletes in China.
Noemie Fox (AUS)
Coming from one of the most famous paddling families, Fox joined her sister Jessica on top of the Olympic podium in Paris by winning the women's kayak cross title. The 27-year-old added to her tally again by taking bronze as the World Cup season resumed in Ivrea but missed out in the final in La Seu. Fox will hope to bounce back from that and will be among the contenders for the kayak cross title in Hangzhou.
Evy Leibfarth (USA)
After becoming the first American woman to qualify for three whitewater events at Paris 2024, Leibfarth won bronze in the women's C1 in the French capital. The success also translated to social media for Leibfarth, who added to her growing followers. Only 20 years old, she continued to deliver on the World Cup circuit, claiming a bronze in the K1 in La Seu and cannot be discounted at the Super Cup.
Full coverage of this week's ICF Hangzhou Super Cup featuring Canoe Slalom, Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon and Canoe Polo can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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