The 2025 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships saw Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallists Ricarda Funk and Jiri Prskavec take the women's and men's kayak titles, respectively.
With action returning to the Paris 2024 Olympic venue, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, it was redemption for Germany's Funk.
The 33-year-old who had a Games to forget last year showed her class with a clean run to take the gold medal.
She was 3.23 faster than silver medallist Gabriela Satkova of Czechia, who picked up a two-second penalty for a gate touch, finishing in 92.59.
Slovakian Zuzana Pankova claimed bronze, 4.31 behind Funk, while it was a race to forget for Paris 2024 medallists Klaudia Zwolinska of Poland and Kimberley Woods of Great Britain, who finished ninth and 12th, respectively.
“I am just really happy. I have nearly no words for today. Now I am friends with this course, I am friends with Paris. The start was pretty hard for me. I was afraid of gate number one, because it is really difficult. I am really happy with the top part,” said Funk.
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Czech paddler Prskavec won a record seventh European title, with an error-free run in 80.03.
He beat Titouan Castryck of France, who added a European silver to the Olympic silver he won on the same course last year, with Martin Srabotnik of Slovenia taking bronze.
“This one is super special, because it is my first ever medal in France. I have so many fans here, and I really like this place and everything. I am just happy I made peace with Paris and France. This one means a lot to me!” Prskavec said.
The canoe finals saw Monica Doria and Miquel Trave clinch their first-ever senior European titles.
The 25-year-old Andorran finished in 103.73, adding to the junior European title, followed by home stars Laurene Roisin and Doriane Delassus. Roisin was 3.03 behind for silver, and Delassus finished third in 107.23.
“Right now, it feels like a dream come true. The junior title was a long time ago. I wanted a medal here in Paris, and it is nice that I managed to have a good run in the final, and it was enough for the win. It is amazing,” said Doria. For Nicolas Gestin, a tiny mistake proved costly as Spaniard Trave pipped him to the C1 title.
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The Paris 2024 champion had a penalty, meaning he was 1.54 behind Trave's run of 87.32, while the teen sensation and defending champion Ziga Lin Hocevar of Slovenia took bronze.
“Nicolas was in front at first. We all know he is really fast, the fastest in the world. He made a mistake at the last gate, and I could not believe it. I am really happy about this title,” Trave said.
“My run was really good, obviously it is never perfect, but it is one of the best I could do and deliver it in the final. I am really enjoying the moment. I really love this sport and I feel strong this season.”
Czechia and Germany won the women's and men's K1 team titles on the first day of action, while the C1 team gold medals went to Czechia again among women, with Great Britain taking the men's title.
In the kayak cross events, home paddlers dominated, but the noteworthy achievement was that of Belgian kayaker Gabriel de Coster, who won the individual kayak cross European title. French paddlers Mathurin Madore and Benjamin Renia got silver and bronze, respectively.
Czech Jakub Krejci was the fastest in the men's kayak cross, beating Frenchman Benjamin Renia and Great Britain’s Sam Leaver.
Camille Prigent did the double on home waters, posting the fastest run in the individual kayak cross before coming out on top in the women's kayak cross final.
Compatriot Angele Hug and Woods won the individual silver and bronze while another French star, Emma Vuitton and Olga Samkova of Czechia finished second and third, respectively, in the women's kayak cross final.
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