A fantastic day of kayak action in Foix ended with gold medals for France’s Titouan Castryck, Slovenia’s Eva Alina Hocevar, Poland’s Hanna Danek and Czechia’s Michal Kopecek. 

They all topped the podium on the third day of competition at the International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships. 

Here’s what all the medallists had to say after an action-packed Thursday. 

Click here for startlists and live results from Foix

Men’s Kayak U23 

Titouan Castryck (FRA – gold) 

I knew at the start that Xabier took the lead with a really good time, so I knew I needed to step it up. I just went all in and it worked pretty well like in Prague, so I am really happy. I’m going to try to the end, so I really pushed with all I had until the end physically and technically, and I think I did a really good to maintain my run and that’s what makes the difference. Yesterday, I was all fine but this morning I started to feel really tense and stressed about it. At the start-line when I heard about Xabi’s run, I was struggling but I feel I need this kind of pressure to make me fired up. 

Xabier Ferrazzi (ITA – silver) 

I am happy. It was going to be a really tight battle with Titouan. I made some mistakes during my run but I was so close, just 0.14 behind. Now I am not that happy but I think I will be in the coming days. To be second in the world for my age group is not bad. I knew Titouan would put down a really good run. He is world number one in the senior level. 

Manel Contreras (ESP – bronze) 

This race was very difficult, but I felt good today and I’m now very happy. The middle part of the course was very difficult where I had to change my paddle speed. It’s a big surprise to me (to get a medal) as Xabier and Titouan are legends. I was very nervous at first but now I’m good. 

Women’s Kayak U23 

Eva Alina Hocevar (SLO – gold) 

I feel amazing. I am without words. It feels unreal. I wanted to win because it is my last U23 World Championships, and I don’t have an U23 world title yet. This was my only goal. Of course, I was really happy with my run and if it wasn’t enough for the win I would still be happy, but I really wanted to be first. I tried to do my best to fight until the end for every one thousandth of a second so I am really happy. I don’t know if the split times were right but I think I did a really good middle part, maybe I lost a bit in one upstream but I put 100 per cent of me into the strokes and used all the power that I had and I think it paid off as I did a really good last part and in the end it was enough. 

Evy Leibfarth (USA – silver) 

I am sharing the podium with two amazing ladies. I am so happy for Eva. She has been paddling amazingly all season. She put down an incredible run. Lois and I were really tight so it was a great final to be a part of. With my style of paddling, I like to go all out from the start. I was trying to push hard at the bottom but I definitely made a couple of errors where I lost some time. I have not seen Eva’s run yet but I am excited to see it as I think she was wicket fast at the bottom. I am so excited for the C1 tomorrow. It’s definitely a stacked competition with Eva again and Zuzana Pankova as well so I’m really excited to see what I can do. 

Lois Leaver (GBR – bronze) 

I am really happy. It’s been quite an emotional day so to put down the run that I did I was really pleased. The other girls were absolutely fabulous today so I am definitely happy. I wasn’t sure if it would be enough to win but Eva and Evy have been on such good form this year so I knew they would put up a good fight. 

Men’s Kayak Junior 

Michal Kopecek (CZE – gold) 

It’s incredible. I still can’t find the words. It’s like a dream come true. I still can’t believe what happened. Competing is all about the mindset and today I did it. I was really nervous before the semi-finals because at last year’s European Championships I didn’t advance to the final so I didn’t know what was going to happen. At the moment when I crossed the finish line and saw that I’m in the final I was like let’s just enjoy the run in the final. From the 16th gate, I was so tired so to here the team cheering me was motivating. 

Ziga Lin Hocevar (SLO – silver) 

I was very tried after the World Cups and the European Championships. It was hard but in the end I lost everything at the bottom of the course. It was very close with a touch and I was half a second behind so it always hurts but I am still happy as I performed well and showed that I am probably still the best junior in the world. Just not today. Tomorrow is another race so we will see. But for now I will at least celebrate my sister’s win, it’s a big achievement for all of us, we have been working hard for so long and I am very happy for Eva. 

Titouan Estanguet (FRA – bronze) 

I am happy about my run. The first part of the race was good. I was tired at the end. I had two touches and it was not enough for the win today. At 19, it was slow and I didn’t adapt myself. I am happy because last year I was 10th and I took a 50-second penalty. Here today I had two touches and I can be on the podium which is nice. 

Women’s Kayak Junior 

Hanna Danek (POL – gold) 

I have worked so hard for this and I am so happy that I made it. My whole preparation for this and the winter with all the hours of training has paid off today which is an amazing feeling. I will remember this moment all my life, I’m sure about that. I was second last year so this year was about bettering that and I did. It’s amazing. I felt I had a fast run but I also had those touches so I was so scared that it was going to impact me but I am still on the first place which is crazy. I would like to thank everybody who made this possible. It’s my coach’s birthday today so this is a little present for him. 

Barbora Ondrackova (CZE – silver) 

It’s incredible, I’m so happy that I made it on the podium. I felt the team events gave me confidence. I felt good in my run, there were some little mistakes, but it was good. I hoped it would be enough but the other girls are so good. I didn’t expect this as this is my first World Championships and was here for experience. 

Mina Blume (GER – bronze) 

I am really happy with the medal. It’s everything, I like it a lot. I was happy that I was in the final and now I’m more happy. I really like this course, it’s great fun, there is difficultly but I like it a lot. It’s best thing to be part of this team, it’s just amazing.