Klara Vankova and Matej Vanek were among the gold medal winners for Czechia as they thrilled the home fans at the International Canoe Federation Wildwater Canoeing Sprint World Championships in Ceske Budejovice.
Czechia showcased their power on home waters with Vankova and Vanek clinching the respective women’s kayak single and men’s canoe single crowns and Kristina Novosadova and Marie Nemcova triumphing in the women’s canoe double.
There was also delight for Czechia in the team events as Vankova and Vanek both led the hosts to success to top the medals table.
Click here for live startlists and results from Ceske Budejovice
France’s Laura Fontaine and Slovenia’s Anze Urankar also continued their dominance in Ceske Budejovice, making it three wins in a row in the respective women’s C1 and men’s K1 categories.
Staging the World Championships for the first time in 19 years, the Czechs were determined to deliver on home waters.
Vanek, who had the pressure of being defending champion, rose to the occasion as he triumphed in a time of 46.42.
He saw off the French challenge as Nicolas Sauteur came second in 47.80 and European champion Charles Ferrion sealed bronze in 48.10.
Vankova, a silver medallist in 2022, emerged victorious in the women’s K1 final to the delight of the home crowd.
The Czech ace took the title in 47.91 as Italy’s Mathilde Serena Rosa claimed silver in 48.19 and Germany’s Luisa Puttkammer earned bronze in 48.72.
The much-anticipated men’s K1 final ended up with another showdown between Slovenians Urankar and Nejc Znidarcic.
It was Urankar who came out on top again, adding to his victories in 2023 and 2024 with success in 41.92.
Znidarcic had to settle for silver in 42.59, with Czechia’s Vojtech Matejicek sealing bronze in 42.68.
A hat-trick was also completed by Fontaine as she maintained her grip on the women’s C1 crown.
Fontaine clinched the title in 52.79, beating Czechia’s Anna Retkova who clocked 53.20 for silver.
The bronze went to Slovakia’s Katarina Kopunova after crossing the finish line in 54.01.
France’s second gold medal of the day was won by Corentin Combe and Clement Monjanel.
The French duo retained the men’s C2 crown in a time of 46.16 as they overcame Czechia’s Vanek and Karel Rasner who finished in 46.68, while France’s Sauteur and Theo Viens collected bronze after crossing in 47.10.
After missing out on medals in the individual events, Novosadova and Nemcova combined to taste success in the women’s C2.
Novosadova and Nemcova sealed victory in 52.23 as they overcame France’s Elsa Gaubert and Margot Beziat who picked up silver in 54.11, and Italy’s Alice Panato and Cecilia Panato who bagged bronze in 54.38.
There was more success for the hosts in the afternoon as they won the women’s K1 team and men’s C1 team events.
Retkova, Novosadova and Vankova teamed up to win the women’s K1 team title as Slovenia came second and Germany finished third.
Vanek, Jachym Hanzel and Antonin Hales joined forces to win men’s C1 team gold, while silver went to Germany and bronze went to France.
The other gold medal on Saturday went to Slovenia as Znidarcic and Urankar linked up with Tjas Til Kupsch to secure top spot in the men’s K1 team event.
Czechia clinched silver, with France bagging bronze.
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