Teenage sensation Ziga Lin Hocevar has caused a major boilover at the opening International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup for 2024 in Augsburg, while Olympic champion Jessica Fox issued a timely reminder of her class.
At just 16 years old, Slovenia’s Hocevar arrived in Augsburg as the European champion, and showed he was in good form by making the final of the men’s kayak event on Friday. But it was nothing compared to his error-free run in the canoe final, setting a time that no other athlete could match.
“It’s incredible, I am lost for words,” Hocevar said.
“Most athletes work for their entire life to maybe win a world cup gold, and I am so lucky to have done it at just 16. Last night I was so focussed and motivated, and then today I posted a time that was even faster than yesterday’s kayak final.
“I was really nervous, this is something I have been dreaming about since the first time I saw my sister paddling in a world cup.
Slovakia’s Marko Mirgorodsky took the silver, while Frenchman Nicholas Gestin posted the fastest raw time in the final, but a gate touch and two-second penalty saw him drop to third place.
Australia’s Fox bounced back from a disappointing K1 final on Friday, and a scratchy C1 semi-final which saw her only just scrape into the final to take gold by more than eight seconds.
The Olympic champion picked up an early gate touch but put together a perfect run for the rest of the race to take the first World Cup win of the season.
“I’m just so relieved to finally put down a good run,” Fox said.
“It’s been a tough weekend, it’s been wet and harsh, I’ve been trying to manage the nerves that come with the first World Cup of the season, but now I’m thrilled to be back on the podium, and to be on the top step.
“It was a tough course, Augsburg is always challenging, so I just really had to keep it together.”
Spain’s Nuria Vilarrubla picked up the silver, with Andorra’s Monica Doria taking the bronze.
The opening ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup will wrap up on Sunday, with the men’s and women’s kayak cross competition. Kayak cross will make its Olympic debut later this year in Paris.
RESULTS
WOMEN’S CANOE
- FOX Jessica (AUS) 110.68 (2 seconds penalties)
- VILARRUBLA Nuria (ESP) 118.73 (2)
- DORIA Monica (AND) 119.19 (4)
MEN’S CANOE
- HOCEVAR Ziga Lin (SLO) 101.57 (0)
- MIRGORODSKY Marko (SVK) 101.84 (0)
- GESTIN Nicholas (FRA) 103.09 (2)
For all the results from today's races, click here.
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