Bulgaria’s Andrii Kraitor enjoyed a memorable return to Szeged as he captured two European crowns in Stand Up Paddling.
It was the first time a SUP European Championships had been staged under the auspices of the European Canoe Association.
SUP joined Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe for a multi-discipline European Championships,
Kraitor, a multiple world and European champion in Canoe Sprint, was among the SUP stars in Szeged.
He stormed to the men’s sprint title in 46.449, overcoming Lithuania’s Vadim Korobov who finished in 47.722.
Spain’s Manuel Hoyuela crossed in 47.835 for bronze.
Kraitor also won the men’s inflatable SUP event in 25:47.72.
Hungary’s Karoly Marton secured silver in 26:24.82, while Victor Fedul beat fellow Romanian Matei Barbu for bronze in 27:09.27.
"I am super stoked to be back here in Szeged,” said Kraitor.
“My first international event was in 2011 here in Canoe Sprint.
“I am happy to have this combined event with Canoe Sprint.
“I feel this professional vibe, thank you for this decision.”
Two gold medals were also won by Natalia Novitskaia (AIN).
She captured the women’s sprint crown in 59.098, defeating Greece’s Kyriaki Logotheti who crossed in 1:00.462 for silver.
The bronze medal went to Poland’s Marta Apanasewicz in 1:01.275.
Novitskaia claimed her second gold with victory in the women’s long distance after clocking 54:24.30.
Hungary’s Reka Slekta came second in 54:27.79, with Logotheti taking bronze in 54:30.10.
Logotheti denied Novitskaia a hat-trick when she triumphed in the women’s technical open in a time of 5:36.133.
Novitskaia collected silver in 5:43.833 as Italy’s Claudia Postiglione posted 5:45.370 for bronze.
Hoyuela emerged victorious from the men’s long distance, winning in a time of 47:44.84.
He defeated Germany’s Ole Schwarz who crossed in 47:55.36, with Denmark’s Christian Andersen bagging bronze in 48:03.38.
"I don't have words to describe how I am feeling now,” said Hoyuela.
“Nine kilometres is very hard.
“I am very happy, I feel amazing.
“I want to say thanks to all the people, my family in Spain that is watching me and thanks a lot for everything.
Denmark’s Andersen came out on top in the men’s technical after finishing in 4:56.174.
Greece’s Phaedon Doukas clinched silver in 4:59.048 as Hoyuela earned bronze in 4:59.518.
Italy’s Vira Lemekha triumphed in the women’s inflatable SUP in 30:05.68.
She overcame a strong Hungarian challenge, with Dora Ebenspanger taking silver in 30:22.19 and Eszter Rasztotzky sealing bronze in 30:28.11.
All of the results from the ECA Canoe Sprint, Paracanoe and SUP European Championships can be found here.
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