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The first two medals for Czech team came already in the first classic event of the day. Barbora Dimovova, the 2017 World Paddle Award winner in the Junior of the year category, did not have much troubles winning the European Champion title in women’s junior K1 event. Her closest rival Verena Sulzer from Germany was more than nine seconds slower when she reached the finish line. Another Czech paddler Karolina Paloudova finished third in this event.

 

 

Karolina Paloudova won her second medal of the day in women’s Junior C1 race. She finished second, just behind Italian Cecilia Panato, who comes from canoeing family. Her father Vladi was wildwater champion himself and his daughters Cecilia and Alice are successfully following his footsteps. Tereza Kneblova (CZE) was third.

 

 

Both women’s events in the U23 category were also successful for Czech ladies. They prepared a triple win in kayak event with Martina Satkova winning the U23 European Champion title, Anežka Paloudova finishing second and Barbora Bayerova third. Martina Satkova and Anežka Paloudova were number one and two in canoe event as well, they just exchanged positions. Alice Panato from Italy joined Paloudova and Satkova on the winner’s podium.

 

 

Canoeist Vaclav Kristek (CZE) had a successful day too. First he won the U23 European Champion title in C1 and then added another gold medal from C2 event where he paddled together with Filip Jelinek. Italian canoeist Giorgio dell’Agostino was second both in C1 and C2 (with Mattia Quintarelli). Michal Smoldas (CZE) was third in C1, and bronze medal in men’s C2 went to German duo Ole Schwarz – Janosch Sulzer.

 

 

France celebrated two gold medals thanks to junior Augustin Reboul. Young paddler was first crowned junior European Champion in K1 event and then also in C2 event together with Gael de Brye. Francesco Ciotoli from Italy and Ben Langenbeck from Germany were second and third in junior K1 race. Manoel ROussin and Tanguy Roussin from France were second in C2M junior event and Tomas Hendrych – Richard Nachtigal (CZE) were third.

 

 

German kayaker Marcel Paufler produced the best run in men’s K1 U23 event to win the European Champion title in front of his cousin Nico Paufler, while Paul Jean from France finished third. Paufler cousins were celebrating double win in U23 event already at this year’s Canoe Marathon European Championships which was held in Metković, Croatia, but there was Nico who won in front of Marcel.

 

 

Reigning Junior K1W Canoe Slalom World Champion Eva Alina Hočevar from Slovenia showed excellent form in wildwater canoeing too. In women’s C2 race she paddled together with Lea Novak and won her second gold medal at Junior Championships in her career so far. 16-year-old paddler, daughter of 1996 C1M Canoe Slalom European Champion Simon Hočevar, also won two medals in team events at Junior Canoe Slalom European Championships, where Lea Novak also paddled in the team. It was not an easy task for Slovenian girls to pick up gold medal. Italians Cecilia Panato and Marta Benedetti were very close, only 0.66 second behind. Domenika Dvorakova and Maria Nemcova (CZE) were third.

 

 

Ireland celebrated a Junior European Champion title thanks to Darragh Conor Clarke Walls who was the fastest paddler in men’s junior C1 event. It was a tough race. French canoeist Mathis Perreau was only 0.23 seconds behind on second place, and another Frenchman Louis Passernig was 1.81 seconds behind to pick up bronze medal.

 

 

On Friday the 2018 ECA Junior and U23 Wildwater Canoeing European Championships will continue with classic team races.