European Canoe Association

Amazing comeback of Zuchora-Borgiel for the Canoe Marathon European Champion title

16.7.2023

On the final day of the 2023 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships four medal events were on the programme in Slavonski Brod, Croatia. Polish duo Mateusz Zuchora - Mateusz Borgiel won European Champion title in senior men's C2 event, Evelin Csengeri - Panna Sinko were the best in women's K2, Quentin Urban and Jeremy Candy in men's K2, while Arpad Kekesi - Daniel Zemen won in junior MK2 event.

In the morning programme, Polish crew Mateusz Zuchora - Mateusz Borgiel prepared an amazing comeback to win the European Champion title in men's C2 senior event. Poles had some problems in the start of the race and fell behind the two Spanish crews. In the first portage, they had to pump the water out of their boat, and precious seconds were running against them.

They left the portage a minute behind the Spaniards Campos - Romero and Busto - Miguens.

Zuchora and Borgiel were fighting to close the gap between the leading group and as the last part of the race was approaching, the gap was smaller and smaller. In amazing final, they managed to overtake the Spanish duos to win the race with more than 14 seconds advantage. Zuchora and Borgiel were second last year at the European Championships in Silkeborg.

Silver and bronze medal went to Spain. The defending champions Manuel Campos and Diego Romero won silver medal this time, while Fernando Busto and Diego Miguens repeated their result from the 2022 when they also picked up bronze medal in men's C2 event of the European Championships.

The defending champions of the 2022 in women's K2 event did not participate this year in Slavonski Brod, so the new champions were crowned. The race was shortened due to the demanding conditions and extremely high temperatures. The fastest duo in 22,6 kilometres long race was Evelin Csengeri - Panna Sinko (HUN) who crossed the finish line 1:43:06.41 after the start.

The silver medal in women's kayak double also went to Hungary with Csilla Rugasi - Panna Csepe. The reigning World Champions Tania Fernandez and Tania Alvarez from Spain, who were also European Championships medallists in the past, were third this time and received bronze medal.

Because of the heat the men's K2 race has been shortened too. Instead of the 29,8 kilometres long course, the athletes fought for the medals in two laps less, so they too had to deal with the 22,6 kilometres of paddling and running. In the first part of the race there were seven boats fighting for the European glory, however in the fifth lap the Hungarian crew already fell a bit behind. In the penultimate portage the additional difference between the crews has been made, while the race was decided in the very last part of the course between three crews. Portuguese duo Jose Ramalho - Alfredo Faria left the last portage in the provisional first position and French Quentin Urban and Jeremy Candy were closely behind. It was in the last metres that Urban and Candy outsprinted Portuguese crew to win the European Champion title in men's K2 event. They were already European Champions in 2019 and 2021.

In the finish line Urban and Candy (FRA) were two seconds faster than Ramalho and Faria (POR) in second place, while Adrian Boros and Bruno Kolozsvari (HUN) won bronze medal.

Arpad Kekesi, bronze medallist of junior men's K1 event, joined forces with Daniel Zemen (HUN) to celebrate junior European Champion title in men's junior K2 event. Hungarians concluded the 22,6 kilometres long course in 1:36:53.67. Two Spanish crews were second and third respectively. Ruben Castilla and Arturo Aguilar received silver medals for their performance, and Diego Lago - Miguel Fernandez were third.

The most successful nation of the 2023 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships was Hungary with a total of 19 medals, 8 of them gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze. Equally impressive was the team of Spain. They won more medals than Hungary, but less gold medals, which brought them the second place on the medal table with a total of 23 medals. Spain won 5 gold medals, 5 silver medals and 13 bronze medals. Medals were also won by representatives of Poland (6 medals), Denmark (4), Portugal (4), Ukraine (3), France (2), Czechia (2), Great Britain (5), Norway (2), Germany (1) and Serbia (1).

In 2024, the ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships will be organised in Poznan, Poland, while competitors will return to Croatia to fight for the World Champion titles in Metković (the host city of the 2018 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships).

RESULTS - day 4

MK2 Junior

1. Arpad Kekesi - Daniel Zemen HUN

2. Ruben Castilla - Arturo Aguilar ESP

3. Diego Lago - Miguel Fernandez ESP

MC2 Senior

1. Mateusz Zuchora - Mateusz Borgiel POL

2. Manuel Campos - Diego Romero ESP

3. Fernando Busto - Diego Miguens ESP

WK2 senior

1. Evelin Csengeri - Panna Sinko HUN

2. Csilla Rugasi - Panna Csepe HUN