Czech sisters Gabriela Satkova and Martina Satkova stood on the top two steps on the podium as short slalom was trailed for the first time at a International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup.
It might have been an unofficial ICF event but the women’s canoe short slalom race in Prague will live long in the memory for the Satkova siblings as Gabriela took gold and Martina picked up silver in front of the home fans.
With an age gap of three years, the sisters are used to competing against each other but had never shared a podium on the international circuit until today.
“It’s amazing,” said Gabriela.
“Winning feels great but when it’s with your sister it feels 10 times better.
“It’s really great.”
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Martina added: “It’s just happiness.
“We wished for it for a very long time on an international level so it’s amazing and we are so proud that it is in Prague which is our home.”
Martina took the lead when she clocked 63.46, moving ahead of Germany’s Andrea Herzog who finished in 63.68.
She then watched on as her younger sister Gabriela snatched victory with a time of 59.93.
“I knew my sister had already got a medal and was first so no matter what happened I knew I was going to be happy,” added Gabriela.
“Racing in front of a home crowd and doing a good run feels great.”
After failing to make the C1 final, Jessica Fox of Australia responded in emphatic fashion in the women’s K1.
Fox, who has struggled in the K1 this season, struck gold in the short slalom, delivering a timely reminder to her rivals ahead of tomorrow’s official races.
“It was really fun to race out there,” said the three-time Olympic champion who triumphed in 55.61.
“Prague is the best place to race and always enjoyable but I was really happy to put down a good run.
“It’s not even about winning, it’s about doing a run that I am really proud of and feeling satisfied at the finish because the last couple of races in kayak have felt quite frustrating.
“It's back to zero tomorrow so today is just a bonus.
“It’s nice to be able to sprint at the finish and having 60 seconds instead of 90 seconds.
“Tomorrow is the one that counts in the World Cup.”
Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska earned silver in 58.01 as Germany’s Emily Apel secured bronze in 58.67.
There was also delight for Slovakia’s Jakub Grigar as he enjoyed a morale-boosting victory in the men’s K1 short slalom.
Grigar, who has endured injury issues in recent years, sealed gold in 48.71, beating Belgium’s Gabriel De Coster by 0.38, while Poland’s Mateusz Polaczyk was 0.72 further back in third spot.
“I am very happy to take the win and maybe I can build my self confidence a little more and hopefully to bring it tomorrow,” said Grigar, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist.
Great Britain’s Adam Burgess overcame Slovenia’s talented 18-year-old paddler Ziga Lin Hocevar to win men’s C1 short slalom gold.
Hocevar put down an impressive time of 53.00 before Burgess, the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist, stormed to victory in 52.57.
Reigning Olympic champion Nicolas Gestin of France came third in 53.72.
“Most of my favourite memories of racing Canoe Slalom have bene here in Prague as the crowd always get behind you,” said Burgess.
“It was really exciting during the run.
“ I knew it was fast because of that crowd.
“I just kept going and it was awesome to get first.
“I sensed more opportunities in the final.
“Even though Ziga Lin’s time sounded really fast, I didn’t want to get intimidated by that.
“I didn’t feel like I needed to rush, I just needed to just stick to the same plan and see what opportunities came up during the run.
“I saw him and took him on.”
Photos by Dezső Vékássy
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