Poland, Czechia, and France scripted history by becoming the first nations to win a Canoe Slalom gold medal at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje, North Macedonia.
The discipline made its debut in the EYOF sports programme this week as athletes from 22 nations competed for canoe and kayak single medals on the Treska River.
While Canoe Sprint has featured at the EYOF previously, the debut of Canoe Slalom saw more than 60 athletes fight for medals in four events.
In the men's K1, Poland's Marek Kulczycki was the star, claiming the gold medal in 1:34.80, with a clean run and 1.61 ahead of silver medallist Max Steinbrenner of Austria.
The bronze medal went to Johann Schmidt of Germany, who finished 2.26 behind Kulczycki.
The Czechs triumphed in the women's K1 thanks to Barbora Ondrackova. She was a cut above the rest, finishing 13.52 faster than second-placed Zara Zahorska of Slovakia in 1:56.64, with Spanish Ainhoa Segura claiming bronze.
Poland got their second title when Patrycja Iwaniec cruised to victory in the women's C1, getting the better of Florence Moinian of Switzerland by 1.18, as Segura got her second bronze of the day.
Leo Roye ensured France stood on top of the podium in the men's C1, crossing the line in 1:42.64.
Italian Dennis Fina bagged silver despite a gate touch, clocking 1:45.56, with the final podium spot going to Matej Kvapil of Czechia.
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