Emma Vuitton and Gael Adisson struck gold on the final day of action at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom Junior and Under 23 World Championships in Liptovsky Mikulas as France finished with six gold, seven silver and two bronze medals to top the medals table.
Czechia was the second-best nation with five gold, one silver and eight bronze medals followed by Slovenia with three gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
Last month, Vuitton stunned four-time Olympic medalist Jessica Fox and Tokyo 2020 champion Ricarda Funk to clinch her maiden ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup title in K1 in Prague.
The 20-year-old continued her good run of form in Slovakia as she won the women’s kayak cross U23 final with ease.
Spaniard Leire Goni and Czechia’s Katerina Bekova claimed silver and bronze, respectively.
The men’s U23 final saw Adisson pip compatriot and 2022 kayak cross world silver medallist Anatole Delassus for the title.
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Czechia’s Mtyas Novak secured the final podium spot.
Slovenia’s Naja Pinteric stole the show in the women’s junior kayak cross final, getting the better of Spain’s Haizea Segura and Australia’s Codie Davidson.
Davidson’s bronze was Australia's only medal of the tournament.
In the men’s junior kayak cross final, Faust Clotet Juanmarti crossed the line first and took gold, adding to the Spanish tally and winning his country’s only gold.
It was an impressive performance from the Spaniard to beat Ziga Lin Hocevar of Slovenia, who was in great form having won a first senior European title and a maiden ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup gold to begin the season.
The bronze medal went to Great Britain’s Jonah Hanrahan.
The thrilling kayak cross races in Liptovsky Mikulas once again provided a glimpse of what to expect as the discipline is set for its Olympic Games debut at Paris 2024.
The International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom Junior and Under 23 World Championships in 2025 is scheduled to be held from July 8 to 13 in Foix, France.
Results from the final day can be found here.
Pictures by ICF/Damiano Benedetto
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