A German one-two, an historic win for New Zealand, a gold for hosts France and a completed set of titles for Slovenia’s Ziga Lin Hocevar was the result of a fantastic final day of kayak cross racing in Foix, France.
This rounded off as wonderful International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships as competition came to a close.
Here’s what all of the kayak cross medallists to say after a stunning Sunday.
Click here for startlists and live results from Foix
Women’s Kayak Cross Juniors
Mina Blume (GER – gold)
“It's really great and I love it that we are together sharing the podium. I'm super happy. It was really close, and we are both very happy with how it ended. We are the first and the second place. I didn’t know who won at first, but then we saw it on the TV screen. The plan was for the first to go to the left gate and then second to the right gate. It was a little bit tactic, but it worked.
Britta Jung (GER – silver)
It was very unexpected. I am only 16 years old and it’s my first year of going to the World Championships. I am very happy. I’m okay to take silver. We made a good plan.
Ainara Goikoetxea (ESP – bronze)
I was a little scared because I had the worst position in the ramp and the course is difficult with the stone in the middle, but I could still go fast and I'm happy now. It's really nice to win a medal for Spain.
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Men’s Kayak Cross Juniors
Ziga Lin Hocevar (SLO – gold)
It’s incredible. They were the only two golds that were missing one. Obviously, no one had a chance of the kayak cross individual in the early years, but this one today is incredible. I'm lost for words. I did everything to come here in a good shape for kayak cross to be able to be on the last day of the championships, which is obviously the hardest one to be still a little bit fresh. I did very good in all four elimination races, so it was just incredible. I really had just one big goal for this Championships, and it was to complete what it's missing and now I have everything. I'm world champion for all four categories. It's just unreal.
Oier Diaz (ESP – silver)
It tastes the same (as gold) and the best thing is that I can share this with my friend, that got third, so it's amazing. Our plan was to get gold and silver, but Ziga Lin was really fast in the first part, so I could only go behind him. I had a slow start, so I couldn't be as fast as I wanted, but getting that inside the line is really important.
Faust Clotet Juanmarti (ESP – bronze)
I am happy because I got a medal with my friend Oier, but I want more. I want to win but there are people that are really good.
Women’s Kayak Cross U23
Doriane Delassus (FRA – gold)
I feel good. I am very happy. I have done a little bad in slalom before, so I am happy for finish with gold medal in kayak cross. It's really good to compete in France with the French supporters and I’m so happy to have this experience. It’s my first title and first medal at the World Championships.
Lois Leaver (GBR – silver)
Kayak cross is always a battle, so pleased to come out in the position, I guess. I was coming into those last set of ups in fourth, so it's always a tough decision to make on what to do, and then it was a bit of a sprint to the finish with Bekova so pleased with the outcome. It's been a really good week. I was a little bit disappointed with the time trial yesterday, so pleased to bring it back today.
Katerina Bekova (CZE – bronze)
When I crossed the finish line, I knew that I was fourth. But I saw that Evy got the fault. When I found out I was third, I was really happy. Yeah, I told myself that I have to try my best and if you want to be first, you need to need to send it. So I tried it and sometimes you can do it and sometimes you mess up. That was my fault but I'm still happy with the bronze medal.
Men’s Kayak Cross U23
Nicholas Collier (NZL – gold)
I’m just astounded. It has been a really, long hard year of training. I narrowly missed out last year in the semi-final and I had got on the podium the year before, so it was incredible to make this comeback here in France and get on the podium and on the top step this time. Having two French guys in the final, you could hear the crowd was so loud. You wouldn't really know who they're cheering for, but you could imagine it's the French guys, but there was a really strong Kiwi contingent here. And they were all cheering me, willing me down the course. It was such a cool feeling.
We got a silver in the C1 just two days ago, but I'm not sure if we've got a gold medal, so that's pretty awesome.
Titouan Castryck (FRA – silver)
It was a real battle, but at the same time it was not a big fight so I just try to wait to the go for the first upstream after Gino (Benini), but it was pretty bad for both of us and in the end I just saw the two guys going to the last one. I saw the opportunity to go right and it was almost good enough for the win, but still not enough. It’s the perfect way to win the first half of the season so I am really enjoying this moment, and my family and some friends are here and all the young team from France, so it’s really pleasing to be here.
Xabier Ferrazzi (ITA – bronze)
I am super happy. It’s my first international medal in kayak cross so I'm over the moon. I was last until the final up. Then I choose to go to go right because I saw Gino, Titouan and Nicholas on the left. So I said ‘Okay, I'll try to do as fast as possible the last up and then I'll see’. It worked because I did quite a good upstream, the guys were fighting and I think Gino had some problems, so I finished third and I'm so happy.
