Czechia showcased its talent pool with four team titles in two days at the International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships in Foix, France.
Canoe and kayak team races got the World Championships off to a flying start as paddlers joined forces to help their respective nation get in the mix for medals.
The opening day saw Czechia win two gold medals, with victories in the women’s K1 U23 team and women’s K1 junior team.
Czechia then backed up those triumphs today with success in the men’s C1 U23 team and women’s C1 junior team.
The other team gold medallists were Great Britain, Slovenia, Germany and France.
Click here for startlists and live results from Foix
Czechia’s first gold medal came on Tuesday courtesy of Lucie Nesnidalova, Katerina Bekova and Klara Mrazkova in the women’s K1 U23 team.
The Czech trio triumphed in a time of 97.22, beating France’s Emma Vuitton, Doriane Delassus and Nina Pesce-Roue who took silver in 98.74.
Bronze went to the United States team of Evy Leibfarth, Ria Sribar and Marcella Altman in 103.51.
There was more glory for Czechia in the women’s K1 junior team as Marketa Hojdova, Anna Fabianova and Barbora Ondrackova emerged victorious.
They won in 103.76 as Great Britain came second after Zoe Blythe-Shields, Arina Kontchakov and Sofia Alfer posted 105.08.
France’s Margot Lapeze, Suzanne Brossard and Judith Locatelli sealed bronze in 110.41.
Day two saw Czechia’s men’s U23 C1 team of Adam Kral, Lukas Kratochvil and Martin Kratochvil deliver gold in 91.04.
Silver went to the French trio of Elouan Debliquy, Mewen Debliquy and Yohann Senechault in 95.19.
The podium was completed by Germany’s Konrad Ginzel, Philipp Suess and Benjamin Kies who crossed in 96.23.
Czechia clinched its fourth gold when Valentyna Kocirova, Marketa Stepankova and Ondrackova captured the women’s junior C1 team title in 116.50.
Blythe-Shields teamed up with Darcey McMullins and Jasmine Wilde to seal silver for Great Britain in 136.11.
Switzerland bagged bronze when Eyleen Vuilleumier, Leni Uffer and Florance Moinian finished in 142.93.
There was also joy for Great Britain on day one as Jonah Hanrahan, Sam Leaver and Thomas Mayer secured the men’s K1 U23 team crown.
They triumphed in 86.29, edging France’s Titouan Castryck, Martin Cornu and Noe Perreau who finished in 86.34 for second spot.
Czechia’s Jakub Krejci, Matyas Novak and Martin Rudorfer crossed in 86.82 for bronze.
The Slovenian team were the other winners on the opening day as Ziga Lin Hocevar led his team to victory.
Hocevar joined up with Tadej Tilinger and Tjas Velikonja to win men’s K1 junior team gold in 91.35.
Silver was won by the Czech trio of Michal Kopecek, Jachym Froehlich and Martin Panzer after posting 92.34.
A time of 98.66 was enough for Spain’s Faust Clotet Juanmarti, Oier Diaz and Didac Fox to earn bronze.
Germany had to wait to the second day to get its hands on a title as Kimberley Rappe, Jannemien Panzlaff and Lucie Krech secured women’s C1 U23 team gold in 109.87.
Adriana Morenova, Tereza Kneblova and Olga Samkova combined to clinch silver for Czechia in 112.22.
Delassus, Zoe Laurent and Pesce-Roue picked up eight two-second penalties but their time of 113.01 was enough to secure bronze for France.
Hosts France sealed its first gold of the World Championships thanks to the success of Leo Ulmer, Titouan Estanguet and Matheo Senechault.
The trio swept to the men’s C1 junior team title in 95.30, beating Spain’s Diaz, Oihan Deus and Jan Vicente who crossed in 99.41 for silver.
Czechia’s Jakub Vones, Jachym Hanzel and Dominik Rezabek bagged bronze in 102.18.
Full coverage of the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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