There were two golds for Czechia and a title apiece for France and Italy on a pulsating final day of kayak cross action at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague, Czechia.
Home star Jakub Krejci followed up his men’s kayak title on Friday by capturing the men’s kayak cross crown on Sunday, while France’s Camille Prigent swept to women’s kayak cross gold.
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Katerina Bekova was another Czech winner as she struck women’s kayak cross individual gold, while Italy’s Giovanni De Gennaro topped the podium in the men’s kayak cross individual.
Ricarda Funk came away with two medals and fellow German Marten Konrad also got on the podium, while Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska, Great Britain’s Joseph Clarke, Czechia’s Vit Prindis and French duo Mathurin Madore and Marjorie Delassus were the other medallists.
Here’s what the medallists had to say after a stunning Sunday.
Women’s Kayak Cross
Camille Prigent (FRA – gold)
It’s my first win in head-to-head. I have won the time trial before but never the fights so I am very happy with this gold. You always have to adapt to whatever is happening out there. Today, I had four runs that were super different from each other so it’s just about staying calm and maybe this time I was more aggressive so when I saw a little bit of space I thought I would nail this before the girls come and that helped me for sure. This win makes me more confident as I always think that I am not good enough in the fights because I am bit smaller and lighter than some other girls but I can see that I can do it and it’s really pushing me to keep fighting for the rest of the season.
Klaudia Zwolinska (POL – silver)
It’s my second medal here in Prague. I think Prague is my favourite course for training and racing and one of my favourite places to be so I am happy that this has happened here. It is maybe my lucky place. I was tired two days ago after C1. Today, I was really tired so I needed something sweet, good coffee and will rest tomorrow. It was really hard. Medals always give my confidence – and I know how to use it so let’s wait for the World Championships.
Ricarda Funk (GER – bronze)
I was not expecting this. To win two medals in the kayak cross events which are not my best discipline but I am really glad that I managed to bring it down and fight for the finish line and win a bronze medal. Winning the overall World Cup in kayak cross last year was a huge surprise but you never know what is going to happen in this event. In the winter, I was working on my kayak cross skills and I am glad that it did pay off a little. You never know in the next races but today it paid off.
Men’s Kayak Cross
Jakub Krejci (CZE – gold)
I feel great. It’s really nice. It’s crazy to have my first two wins in these Olympic events at home. I knew that it would be really important to have a fast start so I was focused on that and I was just having fun. That’s the key. I don’t know how I can describe this, it feels amazing to do this in front of the crowd and know that after the last upstream in the last 100m to 200m form the finish line and all the way I know that I will finish first. I didn’t know what to do there. I feel a little bit strange.
Vit Prindis (CZE – silver)
I feel really good especially after the disappointment of the final on Friday where I was feeling good on the water but didn’t show the Czech spectators the best I can do in slalom. I am really happy that I managed it in the final today. When myself and Jakub were in the final today, we made it to first and second. I know that he has a fast start so I was just following him and the next guys next to us were just fighting. I was thinking that as long as we don’t mess it up and we are split from the fight we can be on the podium together. I am really happy with this result.
Mathurin Madore (FRA – bronze)
It’s great. I didn’t have the best start in the head to head last week at the first World Cup so I really wanted to be on each run really concentrated. I managed to do it. I couldn’t catch the Czech guys in the final. I wanted to steal the show but they are pretty good so I am happy with the podium. With Ziga Lin (Hocevar), we were on the same side and it had a really bad start and in the end it was a battle for the bronze medal. I am happy that I kept it composed until the end and got a bronze medal.
Men’s Kayak Cross Individual
Giovanni De Gennaro (ITA – gold)
It’s a surprise because my goal was to grow step by step this season for cross. I did some improvements this winter but I didn’t believe that I could put down such a good run. I am just happy with how things are going and be competitive here in cross. It’s a beautiful occasion (with Joe and his family). We had a good dinner yesterday. I got her a present today, I think we will remember this day because myself and Joe had a podium together and it will be a good story to tell in the future.
Joseph Clarke (GBR – silver)
It’s my daughter’s first birthday today. This was the first race I did back after my wife gave birth to Daisy. When I arrived here, she was two or three weeks old. I came here and did the cross but didn’t do very well so it’s nice to come back a year on and right some wrongs. Giovanni is the godfather so it’s nice to give her two presents with a gold and a silver today.
Marten Konrad (GER – bronze)
I am very surprised with my time. I thought there was something I could do a little bit better with my run but in the bottom half where other people lost time on the course I did quite well so I am very happy and excited. I want to carry on with this in the heats this afternoon. It’s my first mdal at the World Cup and only second overall.
Women’s Kayak Cross Individual
Katerina Bekova (CZE – gold)
I am so speechless, it’s crazy. I didn’t think it would be enough for winning as the first part wasn’t as fast as you can see in the split times but the two upstreams were pretty good which made the medal, I think. It helps to knowing the course as you are not so stressed and you know where the gates are. I have never had a medal in the kayak cross individual but last time in Tacen I was fourth. It was pretty close so I am so grateful that I made it to first place in Prague.
Ricarda Funk (GER – silver)
Cross is always a little nerve-wracking as I don’t know where I will end up and I don’t know if it is more luck than my skills. I need a little bit more practice to be super sure about what I am doing. I am really happy that it worked out today and the hard work in winter paid off. Kayak cross is not easy, the upstreams are difficult and sometimes I’m struggling with the roll zone and it’s totally different to slalom. The head to head is a different game.
Marjorie Delassus (FRA – bronze)
It’s a bit of a surprise as I started at the beginning of the category. I had to wait so much for a gold medal so I am really happy that I got bronze today. I had a pretty good run between the gates, I paddled quite good and I felt good on the water. That was okay. It’s crazy for me as I came back from surgery. It’s my first international competition since last year so I am really happy to be back on the podium. I broke my ACL so it’s quite a big thing. I did it skiing so not good. I feel better and better every day so I am super happy to be here and get this medal.
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