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The highlight of the first competition day at the 2024 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Metkovic were the afternoon’s short race finals where Melina Andersson (SWE), Mads Brandt Pedersen (DEN), Zsofia Kisban (HUN) and Ignacio Calvo (ESP) took the glory.

 

Sweden’s Melina Andersson won the short race World Champion title in Metkovic after she beat Hungarian duo Emese Kohalmi and Vanda Kiszli. Swedish paddler competed with a spare paddle, “Just before the heats, my original paddle broke. A teammate of mine dropped a table right on the blade so it broke. I had to take the spare one that I never use but then it felt really good when I got on the water so I could calm down and do my race. When it happened, I was really sad and was like ‘oh my God' so I decided to call my mum saying ‘I don’t know what to do’. I just gave this one a shot and it felt the same so I could be confident as I got help from some paddle guys so it was awesome.”

 

Portugal’s Fernando Pimenta was seeking his third consecutive title, however hopes were crushed shortly after a portage. Pimenta and Rodriguez missed a buoy in a crowded turn, so it was Denmark’s Pedersen and South Africa’s Hamish Lovemore who stayed in the fight for the title. After three silver medals in previous editions of the World Championships, Pedersen finally reached the top position, “This is huge. It’s my first win in the short-race at the World Championships. It was the biggest field ever with more than 50 people signed up in the men’s K1 so it is also cool to see the sport keep growing and get a lot of interest. This is such a nice atmosphere and community. Racing is at a really high level so to take the win at the end of the day is pretty cool.” Lovemore had to settle with silver medal and Spain’s Ivan Alonso picked up bronze medal.

 

In men’s C1 short race Spain’s Ignacio Calvo continued the successful tradition of Spanish athletes taking the World Champion title in this event, following Diego Romero and Manuel Campos, “It is my first participation in the World Championships in this distance so I could not be happier. I have found a race which is a mixture between marathon and sprint and is the most suitable for me.” Mateusz Borgiel (POL) was second and Thomas Dunilac (FRA) third.

 

In women’s C1 short race Hungary’s Zsofia Kisban defended her title and celebrated a win ahead of two Ukrainians Liudmyla Babak and Olena Tsyhankova. “I am really happy because I won this short race last year and can again be world champion. It has been a really hard year because there was pressure. I really wanted win this race again so I am so happy.”

 

In the morning programme, when junior events were on the schedule, the thunderstorms hit the venue. In junior women’s K1 event Portugal’s Maria Gomes took the win ahead of Georgia Singe (RSA) and Caroline Heuser (GER). Czechia’s Tereza Kodetova was crowned junior World Champion in C1 event, while silver and bronze were won by Agata Kowalak (POL) and Nerea Novo (ESP) respectively. Marcell Meri (HUN) was the best in junior C1 event, finishing the race ahead of Alex Wilga (POL) and Alberto Ruiz (ESP).