Spanish speedster Oier Diaz captured the men’s canoe junior world title as an early error dashed Slovenia’s Ziga Lin Hocevar’s hopes of an historic hat-trick in Foix, France.
Hocevar was aiming to become the first paddler to win a third successive junior C1 crown after victories in 2023 and 2024, but he was left to rue a touch on gate two.
The two-second penalty was the difference as he finished 1.16 seconds off Diaz’s time of 91.87 to take silver in 93.03.
Click here for startlists and live results from Foix
France’s Titouan Estanguet, the son of three-time Olympic champion Tony Estanguet, was the last paddler to go after topping the semi-finals.
But the Frenchman also suffered a two-second penalty after touching gate nine to register 93.62 for bronze as Diaz celebrated a stunning victory.
While his rivals made mistakes, Diaz produced a clean run to seal the title.
“I don’t believe I have won,” said Diaz.
“My goal was to get a medal. I didn’t mind what colour.
“I had a medal, so I was very happy.
“Those two (Ziga Lin and Titouan) had to go after me and they are really fast.
“When I saw Titouan have the touch, I had feelings that I can’t explain.”
It was the last race of a thrilling day of C1 racing at the International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships staged in sweltering heat.
Czechia picked up two more gold medals as Lukas Kratochvil won the men’s C1 U23 title before Marketa Stepankova triumphed in the women’s C1 junior final.
Evy Leibfarth of the United States also emerged victorious, adding the women’s C1 U23 world title to her Olympic bronze medal in the event.
It is a second U23 world gold for Leibfarth who topped the kayak podium two years ago in Krakow, Poland.
Leibfarth triumphed in Foix with a time of 100.45 as Slovakia’s Zuzana Pankova’s early two-second penalty cost her the title.
Pankova touched gate four for the second successive day as she finished in 100.78, just 0.33 off Leibfarth’s time.
Slovenia’s Eva Alina Hocevar, who beat Leibfarth in the women’s K1 U23 final yesterday, came third in 102.57 including a gate touch.
“I have been chasing the C1 gold for a while,” said Leibfarth.
“I’m really happy that I was able to put down a run that I was really proud of.
“It’s been one of my goals since I was very young, especially to have it in C1.”
Kratochvil claimed the first of Czechia’s two gold medals on Friday when he powered to victory in the men’s C1 U23 final.
He was only paddler to go sub-90 seconds as he won by three seconds with 89.67.
New Zealand’s Oliver Puchner took silver with 92.71, while Spain’s Alex Segura posted 93.41 for bronze.
“I have been waiting for this for a very long time, and I got it so I’m very grateful,” said Kratochvil.
“I had to go full throttle.
“There were little mistakes, but it worked out and I’m glad.”
Stepankova secured Czechia’s seventh title at this year’s World Championships courtesy of her women’s C1 junior success.
She was in cruise control as she sealed victory in 108.65 as Germany’s Neele Krech clinched silver in 109.74 and Great Britain’s Zoe Blythe-Shields bagged bronze in 112.11.
“The run was good, but I didn’t expect it to be that good,” said Stepankova.
“I have so many feelings, I can’t find the words.
“I was second in qualification and second in the semi-finals so I thought maybe there was a chance, but I didn’t expect that at all.”
Competition continues tomorrow.
Full coverage of the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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