Germany’s Zola Lewandowski and Slovenia’s Lan Tominc have clinched the final two titles on offer on the last day of competition at the International Canoe Federation’s 2018 Youth Olympic Games trials in Barcelona.
In strong winds but under clear skies, Lewandowski defeated Iran’s Nirvana Asadbeki in the girls’ C1 slalom obstacle race, while Tominc outlasted Czech Jakub Krejci to win the boys’ K1 slalom title.
15-year-old Lewandowski, who started her paddling career as a kayak sprint athlete before turning to canoe slalom “because she was bored”, finished 27th in the sprint on Friday.
“I feel very good, but it’s still only sinking in,” Lewandowski said.
“It all feels a bit surreal, to be honest. I actually prefer the windy conditions, I like it when you are driving against it. It felt like less of a challenge.
“I’m honestly feeling awesome. I’m so grateful to all my trainers and my family and friends for supporting me.”
Lewandowski is now in the box seat to emulate the feats of her canoe slalom hero, Australia’s Jessica Fox, who won gold at the very first Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010.
“I know it’s cliched to say that, but she’s honestly an amazing athlete,” Lewandowski said.
“She’s very nice, and she’s had a lot of success. Maybe I can do the same thing, we will wait and see.”
15-year-old Tominc underlined a strong day of paddling with a powerful performance in the final, pulling away from the highly-rated Czech in the closing stages to earn the top spot.
Tomin was 38th after Friday’s sprint, with the results of both races being combined to achieve a final standing.
SUNDAY RESULTS
Men’s K1 slalom
- TOMINC Lan (Slovenia) 1:07:12
- KREJCI Jakub (Czech) 1.11.23
- BOUCHARDON Tom (France) 1:10:42
Women’s C1 slalom
- LEWANDOWSKI Zola (Germany) 1:29:51
- ASADBEKI Nirvana (Iran) 1:37:35
- LUKNAROVA Emanuela (Slovakia) 1:30:51
Pics by Adam Collins
