Klaudia Zwolinska and Giovanni De Gennaro crowned European Champions in kayak events
18.5.2024
After a free day at the 2024 ECA I Feel Slovenia Canoe Slalom European Championships when the water level of Sava River did not allow to hold a competition, the championships continued with kayak events, both individual and team. Klaudia Zwolinska (POL) and Giovanni De Gennaro (ITA) won European Champion titles in individual events, while the host nation Slovenia celebrated gold medal in women's team event and Czechia in men's kayak team event.
Due to changes to the competition programme after the water level of Sava River rose too high, the race format was changed and athletes competed only in heats run and a final run. This year, there are 12 boats that qualify to the final in each event.
Polish kayaker Klaudia Zwolinska produced the best final run of the women's event at the 2024 ECA I Feel Slovenia Canoe Slalom European Championships in Ljubljana - Tacen. She had almost five seconds better time than young Slovak kayaker Zuzana Pankova in second place, while Mallory Franklin from Great Britain won bronze medal.
This is the first gold medal for Zwolinska at senior level Championships. "I am really happy, I am shocked a little bit that I had a really good run. Always I had little mistakes, that is why I had silver medal last year, but I knew I can fight for the gold. I am happy that I have this gold. I like gold colour, I have it now, and I am really happy," said Zwolinska.
In men's kayak event Giovanni De Gennaro from Italy as well won his first senior European Championships gold medal. 31-year-old Italian won silver medals at European Championships in 2021 and 2022. This time he finished the race 2.96 seconds ahead of Mario Leitner from Austria and 3.87 seconds ahead of Gelindo Chiarello from Switzerland.
After the race De Gennaro could not hide the emotions, "It feels great. I have been waiting so long to get finally a championships. Here, with my family and friends it is something special. I am so glad I put down a solid run and finished at the top."
In the afternoon, athletes competed in team events. Host nation - Slovenia - celebrated gold medal in women's kayak team event with a big advantage. Eva Tercelj, Eva Alina Hocevar and Ajda Novak crossed the finish line 7.27 seconds ahead of France with Camille Prigent, Emma Vuitton and Coline Charel. Czechia with Antonie Galuskova, Katerina Bekova and Tereza Fiserova was third.
In men's kayak team event, Czechia won gold medal. Jiri Prskavec, Vit Prindis, Jakub Krejci had more than four seconds advantage over Austria with Felix Oschmautz, Mario Leitner and Moritz Kremslehner, while French kayakers Titouan Castryck, Anatole Delassus and Vincent Delahaye won bronze medal.
On Sunday, the 2024 ECA I Feel Slovenia Canoe Slalom European Championships brings individual and team canoe events.
Livestreaming of heats will be available at Canoe Europe Youtube Channel, while individual finals and team events will be livestreamed on www.eurovisionsport.com platform.
18.5.2024
