Hometown heroes and Paris-bound paddlers Jiri Prskavec and Gabriela Satkova sent their local fans into raptures with double gold on Saturday at the International Canoe Federation Slalom World Cup in Prague.
Satkova will compete at her first Olympic Games later this year, and celebrated with women’s C1 victory over a field which included the current Olympic and world champions.
Prskavec will be aiming to defend his K1 Olympic gold in Paris, but on Saturday it was the men’s C1, which he only started paddling competitively last year, where he tasted success. Prskavec missed qualification for the C1 at the Games, but is already planning for Los Angeles in 2028.
He’s win came less than 24 hours after a big mistake in his favoured K1 kept him out of a final in front of his home crowd. He said Saturday’s final needed a change of approach.
“I went out there, I played and I had fun,” Prskavec said.
“It’s my first C1 win, and in front of my home crowd, so I can’t imagine a much better day. I have to show that I can perform under pressure and win medals, and I didn’t manage, so let’s wait in four years and I will do my best.
“I had to change my mindset before today, because yesterday I was too focussed about the seconds, about other competitors instead of focusing on myself. Today I was just like a kid who was playing, and that’s how it should be.”
Reigning men’s Olympic champion Benjamin Savsek confirmed his Paris selection when he qualified for Saturday’s final, and then followed up with silver behind Prskavec. France’s Nicholas Gestin continued his strong start to the 2024 season with another bronze medal.
22-year-old Satkova had the biggest win of her career in a scrappy women’s C1 final, with the top three paddlers all attracting penalties for mistakes during their performances. But Satkova, urged on by the capacity home crowd, held her nerve to take the gold.
“The feeling is just incredible, I can not believe I was able to do such s good run in front of my home crowd, it just feels great,” Satkova said.
“I was actually pretty stressed, because when my sister was going in front of me I heard the crowd cheering so much, and the nerves, it just makes you stressed, but I was also motivated to make sure I could also do a good run. It all went well and I can’t believe it happened.
“The crowd here is so amazing, and I’m so glad they came here to support us. Even the Czech President was here to support us, which is incredible.”
For the second day running Australia’s Jessica Fox ruled herself out of a gold medal by picking up two gate touches and four seconds in penalties. Her raw time was the fastest of the final, but she had to settle for silver.
Germany’s Andrea Herzog, who won C1 bronze in Tokyo but will miss the Paris Games, finished third, also with a two-second penalty.
The ICF World Cup in Prague will finish on Sunday, with Olympic quotas up for grabs in the men’s and women’s kayak cross events.
RESULTS
WOMEN’S C1
- SATKOVA Gabriela (CZE) 96.35 (2 seconds penalties)
- FOX Jessica (AUS) 97.94 (4)
- HERZOG Andrea (GER) 98.43 (2)
MEN’S C1
- PRSKAVEC Jiri (CZE) 86.32 (0)
- SAVSEK Benjamin (SLO) 87.14 (0)
- GESTIN Nicholas (FRA) 88.43 (2)
Pics by Dezso Vekassy
