Czech canoeist Martin Fuksa is one of the best canoe sprinters in the world with numerous European and World Championships titles and medals, however Olympic medal has always been slipping away from him. Now, all is forgotten as he won his first Olympic medal and Olympic Champion title in Paris. Germany celebrated gold in men’s K2 500 metres final.
At the age of 31 Martin Fuksa (CZE) already has an impressive career, the only thing missing to make it perfect was the Olympic medal. Now, the last piece of the puzzle has been added. Czech canoeist took the win in men’s C1 1000 metres event ahead of Isaquias Guimaraes Queiroz of Brazil and Moldova’s Serghei Tarnovschi, who repeated his success from Toyko by winning bronze medal.
“Finally, I have so many medals from European and World Championships, and now finally I take a gold medal from the Olympics, the best gold medal that I have. I’m really happy now. Dreams come true. My Fuksa team is a team from a small town in Czech Republic, we just love this sport and we’re training there every day. It’s not just my medal, it is all my family’s,” said Fuksa.
Men’s K2 500 metres event was won by German duo Max Lemke and Jacob Schopf, who took gold ahead of Hungarians Bence Nadas and Sandor Totka, while bronze went to Australia with Jean van der Westhuyzen and Thomas Green.
“This year at the Poznan World Cup was the first time we were in a K2 together. The focus was 100 per cent on our K4, so we didn’t spend much time in the K2. It was just an add on and it turned out really good,” said Lemke.
Women’s K2 500 metres title went to New Zealand with Lisa Carrington and Alicia Hoskin. Silver medal went to the hands of Tamara Csipes and Alida Dora Gazso (HUN), while there were two crews sharing third place when Germany’s Paulina Paszek and Jule Marie Hake finished in a dead heat with Hungary’s Noemi Pupp and Sara Fojt.
China celebrated gold medal in women’s C2 500 metres race where Shixiao Xu and Mengya Sun won ahead of Ukrainians Liudmyla Luzan and Anastasiia Rybachok and Canadians Sloan MacKenzie and Katie Vincent.
Source: https://www.canoeicf.com/news/new-zealand-and-china-retain-titles-fuksa-and-germans-rejoice-paris
Photo: ICF / Romain Bruneau
9.8.2024
