French flags were flying as the country’s men’s team won almost all the medals on offer, while Slovakia’s Zuzana Pankova and Evy Leibfarth of the United States came out on top in the women’s events.
The International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague, Czechia delivered a spectacular day of racing with heats and finals in the men’s and women’s canoe and kayak.
Here’s what the medallists had to say after a sensational Saturday.
Click here for startlists and live results from Prague
Women’s Canoe
Zuzana Pankova (SLK – gold)
Being a gold medallist sounds incredible and feels even better. Yesterday, I didn’t do the short slalom as I wanted to prepare my best and I think it worked out pretty well. I felt very good at the start and everything worked out how I wanted it to. I think at the 20th gate, I was thinking ‘don’t mess it up’. I pulled it together and I am happy. After the Olympics where I came fourth, I had extra motivation and I had my best preparation that I have ever done so it worked out pretty well. This is my first World Cup win. I had a medal in 2022 with silver but now it is shining gold.
Eva Alina Hocevar (SLO – silver)
I am so happy. The run was perfect and I enjoyed it so much. I fell into my zone and I just delivered gate after gate so I really enjoyed it. It doesn’t happen so often that I enjoy it so much during the race but today I did and it feels amazing. This gives me a lot of confidence. After Pau and La Seu, I felt like I lost something that I had this year at the European Championships where I was fourth. It was painful (to miss out on a medal) but I had a good feeling that I am among the top places and then I didn’t find myself in Pau and La Seu. Now I am back and I am among the best here which feels amazing.
Andrea Herzog (GER – bronze)
I am really, really happy. I didn’t think it would be enough. I knew my time was really good but then the other two girls (Pankova and Hocevar) came down and I was thinking the finals are really good today and there were so many more girls to come so I never thought it would be enough with the gate touch. I am so happy and relieved now. This gives me confidence as the last races didn’t go so well and now I know that I can still race and be on the podium. With the World Championships in Penrith this year, it gives me a lot of confidence now.
Men’s Canoe
Nicolas Gestin (FRA – gold)
It feels so good to be with them on the podium. They are not just my competitors, they are my friends and I feel like the way we train sometimes together, sometimes alone but we respect everyone a lot but to put a good run down today together feels like we have created a really good memory for the rest of our lives. When I saw Yohann and Mewen in the final, I was already thinking we could make the final together. We might not be the best as there are many good paddlers but I feel we have a chance to be on the top. To think it is one thing but to do it is another.
Mewen Debliquy (FRA – silver)
It was really close but I have to stay humble and just be happy. It’s my first-ever World Cup medal and I am so happy. It was my dream to race here in Prague when I was young so to win this first medal is crazy. It’s so cool. I knew I was in a good mood compared to previous years so I knew I had it in me but I just needed to deliver a good final run. To be able to deliver today feels so good. I think it’s maybe the first time where there are three French guys on the podium at a World Cup. We are all friends here so it’s so cool to share this with them. I am so happy.
Yohann Senechault (FRA – bronze)
We have a really good team in France with great conditions so I am really happy to be with them on the podium. It’s always crazy to make a final here in Prague so I am so happy. Prague is always a difficult course but when you have a god feeling with the water, it’s cool. Yes, it’s hard but we take a lot of pleasure racing it. I am really happy. It’s my first year in the senior team so it’s very cool to be consistent like this.”
Women’s Kayak
Evy Leibfarth (USA – gold)
On my gosh, it feels incredible. Prague is one of those World Cups that you really dream of doing really well. Just being in the final here is an amazing experience. The crowd is awesome and I’m out here with so many other amazing girl paddler so to win is something special. I’m really excited. I do (that mistake at gate 15) quite a lot in practice. You make a small mistake and it’s all about just fixing it and moving on. That’s what my dad taught me. Always keep your focus in front of you. I didn’t even remember it until after I finished. It’s crazy. I have never won a World Cup before and it’s been a goal of mine for a while so I am so really excited and anything to give me confidence is great and I’m just excited to enjoy the rest of the season.
Camille Prigent (FRA – silver)
I’m really happy. It was a really hard course. The atmosphere was building up and I could hear that the girls had some really good runs so I was really excited and nervous to go so I am happy I kept it together. It was a really tricky course with a few spins, some sweep ups and using the stoppers everywhere. It was really interesting and I had a lot of fun. I had to fight in some parts. I have to improve on some stuff before the main event, the World Championships, but I feel that I am getting more consistent and am already getting a few medals at the World Cups.
Lois Leaver (GBR – bronze)
When I got that touch, I thought it might cause me more issues so I’m really pleased. The rest of the run felt really nice, really smooth. The crowd was phenomenal. As Antony came down before me, she had the Czech crowd but they were just as a loud. I just need to stop touching the gates but I definitely feel like this year I have pieced a few things to together so it definitely feels like (the gold medal) is coming.
Men’s Kayak
Titouan Castryck (FRA – gold)
I have been struggling a little bit on the water this week so I thought I just need to try my best and we will see what is going to happen. I think I made it happen pretty well so I am really happy about it. I didn’t feel too good, I felt a bit sick and had trouble with my gear. I tried to forget everything for today and it went well. We were watching the C1 with the K1 men this morning and we were thinking they are putting pressure on us so we need to maybe not be as good as them but try to get some medals. To get one and two is still pretty good. Even though we didn’t get a full podium full of French it’s still very enjoyable.”
Anatole Delassus (FRA – silver)
I feel very happy. It was awesome to race here in Prague. The crowd was fantastic but of course I would like to take the gold medal once time. I am a little bit disappointed but to share the podium with Titouan is fantastic and we will see for the next race. We train together and on each session we push one another to take a short line to go faster. It helps us both a lot. I hope to get gold but the main event will the World Championships in Australia and we are focused on that.
Giovanni De Gennaro (ITA – bronze)
I feel good. I have been improving since the first race this year. The goal here wasn’t to get a medal but just working on building the confidence so it went even better than expected. Now we know we are working on the right direction for the World Championships. Anatole and Titouan have been the best paddlers this season so I am not surprised to see them there. I could have been closer with a better section before the bridge. I don’t know if I would have caught Titouan but I would have been closer. They are the guys to beat for the World Championships.
Photos by Dezső Vékássy
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