Slovenia’s teenage star Ziga Lin Hocevar followed up his sister’s success by delivering another golden moment for his family on home waters – just hours after completing a school exam.
The opening International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup of the season in Tacen, Slovenia is turning into the Hocevar show with wins for the two siblings.
Click here for live startlists and results from Tacen
Just 24 hours after Eva Alina Hocevar secured her first-ever women’s kayak gold medal, her younger brother Ziga Lin Hocevar clinched the men’s canoe title to the delight of his family and the Slovenian crowd.
There was also another medal for Eva Alina Hocevar as she secured silver behind Czechia’s Tereza Kneblova in the women’s C1.
It was a busy day for Ziga Lin Hocevar as the 18-year-old took an exam at school before producing a fantastic display in Tacen.
France’s Nicolas Gestin, the reigning Olympic champion, was unstoppable in the second half of last season, clinching a hat-trick of World Cup crowns before capturing the world title in Sydney.
But the Frenchman’s winning streak came to an end in Tacen, with a two-second penalty taking him outside the medal places.
Roared on by the home crowd, Hocevar clocked a time of 77.85 as he clinched the World Cup crown by almost three seconds.
Czechia’s Vaclav Chaloupka ranked second in 80.60 with Slovenia’s Luka Bozic edging France’s Yohann Senechault by 0.01 to take bronze in 80.90.
“I feel unbelievable,” said Hocevar.
“It’s a dream come true to win a World Cup at home.
“It’ll be two years tomorrow since I won my first World Cup, it’s just unbelievable.
“It was a crazy morning for me, I woke up at 6:50 and went to school to do my exams.
“I was there for about three hours. It was pretty tiring, but I think it went well. I came straight to Tacen, had one hour to prepare.
“For the final I was tired but I just knew I had to go for it. I had nothing to lose.”
It was almost a golden double for the Hocevar siblings only for Kneblova to clinch her first-ever World Cup title in the women’s C1.
Eva Alina Hocevar was attempting to pull off a canoe-kayak double on home waters following her victory in the women’s K1 yesterday.
But Hocevar, who qualified fastest for the final, was unable to get the better of Kneblova.
Despite incurring a two-second penalty for touching gate two, Kneblova refused to let it derail her as she powered down the course in 84.27.
Hocevar picked up silver in 84.97, while Switzerland’s Alena Marx bagged bronze in 85.87.
“I’m so thrilled because it’s my first really good final run,” said Kneblova.
“I’m so grateful that I was able to put it down here.
“It’s really special for me, especially after last year when I didn’t manage to put together the runs I wanted for a long time.
“I’m really grateful for all the work I’ve put in, and to see it come together like this means a lot.”
WOMEN’S C1
- KNEBLOVA Tereza (CZE) 84.27
- HOCEVAR Eva Alina (SLO) +0.70
- MARX Alena (SUI) +1.60
MEN’S C1
- HOCEVAR Ziga Lin (SLO) 77.85
- CHALOUPKA Vaclav (CZE) +2.75
- BOZIC Luka (SLO) +3.05
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