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Basque canoe slalom paddler Maialen Chourrat celebrated her 41^st birthday in early March, but she is unstoppable. She returned very strong after injury and operation, and is one step closer to qualify to her fifth Olympics. She first competed under five rings in 2008 in Beijing, where she gained important experience, to start her Olympic success in 2012 at London Olympics. There she won bronze medal and four years later she crowned her career with Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro. Her appetites remained high and she completed her Olympic medals collections with silver in Tokio.

 

Now, Spain has selection races for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and Chourraut is again in the best position to secure herself a spot in the Olympic team in women’s kayak. The Spanish selections consist of six races, and the best four results will be taken into the consideration in the final selection of the team. The first three selection runs were held past weekend at the 1992 Olympic course in La Seu d’Urgell, and the next three races will be held next weekend in Pau, France. In addition, kayak cross will be the decisive factor in case of a tie after slalom qualification events.

 

Chourraut paddled very well at the first three selections in La Seu d’Urgell and recorded three wins, which brought her a step closer to Paris. Her closest rival is Laia Sorribes and the selection races in Pau will give a final answer. The experienced paddler of the Atletico San Sebastian club was unbeatable also in kayak cross, where Leire Goni and Miren Lazkano are considered her closest rivals.

 

In women’s canoe Nuria Vilarrubla, a local from La Seu d’Urgell is also well on her way to France. Like Chourraut, she also recorded three wins during the first selection race on her home course. Vilarrubla competed at Tokyo 2020 Olympics and was eight there.

 

Her club teammate Miquel Trave is also in the best position to qualify for Paris Olympics in men’s canoe. 24-year-old won three selection races, without any mistakes and penalties. He also has a bonus thanks to his silver medal at last year’s European Games in Krakow, and great performances at World Cup races in the season 2023.

 

After the first stage of the selection process, the most complicated situation is in men’s kayak where the tough fights are expected until the very last race. After three races Pau Echaniz and David Llorente are in the best position to qualify for Paris. Basque paddler Pau Echaniz was the winner of the first race, finishing 1.20 seconds ahead of Llorente. In the second race Llorente, native of Segovia, won ahead of Echaniz by 0.10 seconds and the selection races result was tied.  In the third selection race, Echaniz once again took the win, this time he crossed the finish line 0.20 seconds faster than Llorente. Miquel Trave, Manuel Ochoa and Manel Contreras still have theoretical chances to get into the mix. However, in men’s kayak cross David Llorente is in the best position.