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The host nation celebrated two gold medals on the third competition day of the 2022 ECA Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom European Championships on the Vltava River, when the first medals in the individual events were awarded.

 

The 20-year-old Jakub Krejci managed to defend the U23 men's kayak European Champion title from last year's European Championships in Solkan. He was more than a second and a half faster than Miquel Trave from Spain who won silver medal. Bronze medal went to Germany thanks to Joshua Dietz.

 

"It's fantastic. I was very nervous. It was hard for me, because the pressure on me was very big. The championships was at home and last year I won the championships, so this is why it was hard. I like the course, because I was born here. The water on the course is changing, it's very physical, which is what I like," said Krejci after winning gold medal at his home course.

 

Paulina Pirro was the best in women's junior kayak final. Like Krejci, she too already had a previous experience from the top podium position at European Championships. German kayaker was Junior European Champion already two years ago in Krakow.

 

This time her performance was superb and she was more than two seconds faster than any other finalist of this event. Olga Samkova from Czech Republic was second and Spain's Maite Odriozola picked up bronze medal.

 

After the race Pirro said, "My final was ok. The course is tricky. I am very very happy that I am European Champion. The feeling is great!"

 

In women's U23 kayak final Antonie Galuskova started second, but remained at the top until the end of the race. 21-year-old Czech kayaker is one of the most experienced at this European Championships. With team medals from senior World and European Championships and as a former junior world champion she was considered one of the favourites for the medal.

 

It worked out in her favour and she won the first individual European Champion title in her career. "I am European Champion for the first time and it's unbelievable. I am enjoying it so much. I was struggling a little bit, because my races were not that great. I am really happy I managed to win. It was kind of stressful till the 9th gate, because I did not feel like myself, but then I found the feelings and I enjoyed it so much. The finish line was just awesome for me."

 

Half a second behind Galuskova France's Angele Hug crossed the finish line to win silver medal, while Emily Apel from Germany received bronze in women's U23 kayak event.

 

The first favourite of men's junior kayak final Titouan Castryck won his first individual Junior European Champion title. The reigning Junior World Champion received a fifty penalty seconds after crossing the finish line, but the judges reviewed his run and the penalty was taken away, so he jumped to the highest position. This is fourth medal at major international competitions for French representative in this season. Besides two medals from Junior World Championships and today's gold medal in junior kayak event, he was also a member of French senior team that won bronze medal at senior world championships in Augsburg.

 

"It's really nice. I was not feeling very great during the week, so I am happy to take the win today. My start wasn't on point and I had a 50 when I arrived to the finish, so it was quite stressful. I was sick all the week, I did not have a good training here. I am really satisfied. I really wanted to take the win at World and European Championships. The senior race was a bonus. I am really happy with the experiences I had this year," said the 2022 Junior European and World Champion.

 

15-year-old Ziga Lin Hocevar from Slovenia finished second, winning his third medal of this championships in his debut international season. In the previous two days, he won two team gold medals in junior kayak team event and U23 canoe team event. Richard Rumansky from Slovakia was third.

 

On Sunday, the European Championships will conclude with canoe semi-finals and finals and extreme slalom.