The first finals at the Junior and U23 World Championships were contested today.  Six individual medals would be up for grabs. 

Men’s U23 Canoe Single

The final contested by 10 young men proved exciting with the competition proving stiff.  The Russian athlete, Kirill Setkin would manage 3^rd place being pipped by Lukas Rohan (CZE) for silver.   The clean run by Florian Breuer (GER) in a time of 87.88 seconds would be enough to take the gold medal.    A happy Breuer stated “I did not think I could win this Championships as its my first U23’s Worlds but now I can believe I can win more”.

Women’s U23 Canoe Single

With two sisters in the final (Noemie and Jessica Fox) and some well known names on the ICF Slalom circuit, such as Kimberley Woods (GBR) this was going to be a good race.  So much so that none of the finalists missed any gates.  Viktoria Wolffhardt (AUT) put in a clean run to take the bronze medal.  Kimberley Woods (GBR) showed her experience by putting in a good time of 105.44 including a two second penalty to take the silver medal.  But it would be the calm and collected Jessica Fox who would take home a gold medal in a time of 101.72 seconds.

Men’s U23 Kayak Single

The Slovaks would dominate this final.  Jakub Grigar would take the gold with a faultless run in 79.55 seconds.  The Italian Zeno Ivaldi would be the meat in the sandwich taking silver in 82.79 again with no penalties.  The bronze medal went to Andrej Malek (SVK) who had an unfortunate two seconds penalty denying him a 2^nd place finish.  Grigar commented after the race “I am really happy, I had a good run and some good luck and it worked out my time was 79 seconds, really happy about that”.

Men’s Junior Canoe Single

Slovakia continued their gold medal rush with Marko Mirgorodsky who had a clear run to finish in 89.68 seconds which could not be matched in this final.  Matyas Lhota (CZE) had two penalties but would make no difference with a time of 92.36 seconds he finished in second place and take the silver medal.  Gregor Kreul (GER) would take the bronze medal to complete the podium lineup.

Women’s Junior Canoe Single

Germany managed to have two athletes on the podium with Kira Kubbe having a clean run to take bronze medal.  Andrea Hergoz was the fastest of the field but with her penalty only managed the silver medal.  A perfect run by Tereza Fiserova (CZE) would prove the ultimate run and give her the gold medal. Fiserova was so proud after the race saying “I feel so happy, the course was hard, I did well I think, I had no touches. I feel great now and I am speechless!”.

Men’s Junior Kayak Single

 The last individual final of the day would prove to be a very close race.  A surprised but very happy Rusian Pestov (UKR) crossed the finish line in 84.27 with a clean run to take the gold medal.  Felix Oschmautz (AUT) had to settle for a silver medal but his two second penalty would cost him the gold.  He finished only 0.7 seconds behind Pestov.  Wiktor Sandera (POL) would produce an excellent run to achieve a deserved bronze medal.  Pestov stated afterwards “ I found the course very hard so it’s good to win the Championship”.

 C1M U23

1. Florian Breuer (GER)87.88  no penalties
2. Lukas Rohan (CZE) 89.06 no penalties
3. Kirill Setkin (RUS) 90.43 two seconds penalty

C1W U23

1. Jessica Fox (AUS) 101.72 two seconds penalty
2. Kimberley Woods (GBR) 105.04 two seconds penalty
3. Viktoria Wolffhadt (AUT) 107.23 no penalties

K1M U23

1. Jakub Grigar (SVK) 79.55 no penalty
2. Zeno Ivaldi (ITA) 82079 no penalty
3. Andrej Malek (SVK) 83.34 two seconds penalty

C1M Junior

1. Marko Mirgordsky (SVK) 89.68 no penalty
2. Matyas Lhota (CZE) 92.36 two seconds penalty
3. Gregor Kreul (GER) 94.83 no penalty

C1W Junior

1. Tereza Fiserova (CZE) 108.08 no penalty
2. Andrea Herzog (GER) 108.11 two seconds penalty
3. Kira Kubbe (GER) 108.66 no penalty

K1M Junior

1. Ruslan Pestov (UKR) 84.27 no penalty
2. Felix Oschmutz (AUT) 84.98 two seconds penalty
3. Wiktor Sandera (POL) 85.62 no penalty