Nicholas Collier became the first New Zealander to win gold at the International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships courtesy of his kayak cross success on a thrilling final day in Foix, France.
The home crowd were yearning for a French one-two in the men’s kayak cross U23 final with Titouan Castryck and Gino Benini lining up on the start ramp.
But Collier stole the show, overcoming the two Frenchman and Italy’s Xabier Ferrazzi to clinch the world crown.
Click here for startlists and live results from Foix
“I’m just astounded,” said Collier.
“It has been a really long, hard year of training.
“I narrowly missed out last year in the semi-final.
“I got on the podium the year before, so it was incredible to make this comeback here in France and get on the top step of the podium this time.
“Having two French guys in the final, you could hear the crowd, it was so loud.
“You wouldn't really know who they were cheering for, but there was a really strong Kiwi contingent here. And they were all cheering me, willing me down the course.
“It was such a cool feeling.”
Castryck, who won the men’s kayak U23 title in Foix, had to settle for silver as Fezzarri bagged bronze.
Slovenia’s Ziga Lin Hocevar cruised to men’s kayak cross junior gold, backing up his victory in the kayak cross individual yesterday after finishing second in the kayak and canoe.
The two gold medals in two days means Hocevar has now won junior world titles in all four events having topped the podium in the kayak and canoe last year.
“It’s incredible,” said Hocevar.
“They were the only two golds that were missing one.
“Obviously, no one had a chance of the kayak cross individual before this year, but this one today is incredible. I'm lost for words.
“I really had just one big goal for this Championships, and it was to complete what it's missing and now I have everything.
“It's just unreal.”
Hocevar proved too strong for the rest of the field as Spain’s Oier Diaz and Faust Clotet Juanmarti finished second and third respectively.
Evy Leibfarth’s hopes of winning two gold medals in Foix were dashed when she received a fault in the women’s kayak cross U23 final.
The United States paddler crossed the finish line in first only to find out that she had picked up a fault on gate three.
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This promoted France’s Doriane Delassus to top spot as Great Britain’s Lois Leaver moved up to second and Czechia’s Katerina Bekova climbed to third.
“I have done a little bad in slalom before, so I am happy to finish with a gold medal in kayak cross,” said Leibfarth.
“It's really good to compete in France with the French supporters and I’m so happy to have this experience.
“It’s my first title and first medal at a World Championships.”
There was a photo finish to the women’s kayak cross junior final as Mina Blume pipped German teammate Britta Jung to the line.
Blume was delighted to share the podium with Jung as Spain’s Ainara Goikoetxea clinched bronze.
“It's really great and I love it that we are together sharing the podium,” said Blume.
“I'm super happy.
“It was really close, and we are both very happy with how it ended.
“I didn’t know who won at first, but then we saw it on the TV screen.
“The plan was for the first to go to the left gate and then second to the right gate.
“It was a little bit tactic, but it worked.”
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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