Hungary showed their canoe strength and Denmark demonstrated their kayak dominance as the two nations swept the U23 titles at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Marathon World Championships in Gyor.
Lili Sara Matkovics and Mihaly Pluzsik handled the pressure of competing on home waters as defending champions as they retained their respective women’s and men’s C1 U23 crowns.
This was followed by double delight for Denmark as Pernille Kuijers Hostrup overcame Hungary’s Panna Csepe in the women’s K1 U23 final before Philip Knudsen cruised to the men’s K1 U23 title.
History was also made in Gyor as Muhammadi Rajabov, who is part of the ICF’s development camp, won Tajikistan’s first-ever medal at the Canoe Marathon World Championships courtesy of his men’s junior C1 bronze.
Click here for live startlists and results from Gyor
There was a Hungarian one-two in the men’s C1 U23 long distance as Pluzsik got the better of Peter Soltesz.
Pluzsik retained the world crown in 1:28:31.71 as Soltesz claimed silver in 1:28:38.01, while the bronze went to Spain’s Dario Sanchez in 1:30:14.74.
“I’m so happy and glad to be here in front of my family, fans and everybody,” said Pluzsik.
“I have never competed in an international race in Hungary before and because of that I am so excited and really happy with this gold.
“I was so nervous, not because I won last year but because my family and friends were here so I didn’t want to make any mistakes in front of them.”
Matkovics also backed up her victory in Metkovic last year to secure gold in the women’s C1 U23.
The Hungarian paddler triumphed in 57:33.78, beating Moldova’s Elena Glizan who claimed silver in 57:57.49 and Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) Aleksandra Vlasova picked up bronze in 58:35.13.
“It’s always a pressure to be the one that is defending their title,” said Matkovics.
“It was really stressful for me. My goal was to have a good race and give everything I had and show my maximum.
“I got lucky in the first lap and I am happy that I could keep that distance and even make it larger so I am really happy.
“Last year, it was my first world title and this year I was racing at home and everyone I love had the chance to see me.”
While canoe crowns went to Hungary, the kayak titles belonged to Denmark courtesy of victories for Hostrup and Knudsen.
Hostrup pulled away in the final lap to win gold in 1:43:01.83 as Csepe had to settle for silver in 1:43:06.93, while Jade Wilson of South Africa clinched bronze in 1:43:13.12.
“I feel really good, it was so hard, especially in the start and right at the end,” said Hostup, who won bronze in 2024.
“I’ve been getting more experiences and have trained a lot since last year. This is my last year in U23 so I wanted to give my all. This means a lot to me.”
Knudsen then followed Hostrup’s win by making it back-to-back men’s K1 U23 crowns.
There was no stopping Knudsen as he swept to victory in 1:44:59.83 as Argentina’s Pedro Agustin Ratto secured silver in 1:45:38.30 and Hungary's Zalan Peli bagged bronze in 1:47:22.50.
“It’s amazing, I’m very happy to defend the title and it’s my last year in U23,” said Knudsen.
“I felt I had really good energy today and the course was perfect for me to breakaway. It was very nice.
“It was a very good day for Denmark.”
There was a shock in the men’s junior C1 final as Czechia’s Martin Novacek made the most of Abel Farago-Toth’s blunder at the finish to win gold.
Hungary’s Farago-Toth was clear of the field and only a couple of metres from the finish line only to capsize. This allowed Novacek to pounce as he claimed the title in 1:11:16.90.
Portugal’s Leonardo Barbosa sealed silver 1:12:00.97, while Rajabov came through to win bronze in 1:12:25.23.
It was an historic moment for Tajikistan as Rajabov became the first paddler from the nation to win a medal at the Canoe Marathon World Championships.
Rajabov has been part of the ICF Talent Identification Programme (TIP) since 2023 and is in the development camp in Gyor.
“I’m very happy as it’s my first medal for Tajikistan since they became an independent country. I feel incredible,” said Rajabov.
“I didn’t expect this but in my mind I was just trying to do my best until the end.
“I was preparing with my coach every day, morning and evening for this race. I am in the TIP programme and I am very grateful to the ICF. It’s a great opportunity for me.”
Lili Kolozsvari earned her second gold medal in Gyor as she secured the women’s K1 junior long distance title.
A time of 1:26:46.04 saw Kolozsvari seal top spot as Denmark’s Karen Stoubaek Andersen came second in 1:26:54.99 and Great Britain’s Dianora De Bilio picked up bronze in 1:27:56.54.
Yesterday, Kolozsvari came out on top in the women’s K1 junior short distance final, posting a time of 15:54.42.
Germany’s Caroline Heuser finished in 16:16.58 for silver, with Hungary’s Janka Reisz earning bronze in 16:35.06.
AIN paddler Mariia Kharitonova denied Hungary another gold when she beat Nora Fekete to the women’s C1 junior long distance title.
Kharitonova crossed in 59:11.48 to take gold as Fekete collected silver in 59:52.17 and Spain’s Lucia Pizarro Dorado bagged bronze in 1:00:40.32.
In yesterday’s men’s junior K1 short distance final, Great Britain’s William Short emerged victorious in a time of 14:28.93.
Hungary’s Merse Molnar sealed silver in 14:35.05, with France’s Orlan Coattrieux bagging bronze in 14:36.14.
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