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Slovak Canoeing awarded the best athletes of the season 2023 at a Canoeist of the Year ceremony held in Bratislava. The main awards of the day were won by Canoe Slalom paddler Eliška Mintalova and Canoe Sprinter Erik Vlček.
The best sportsman of the year and the best athlete at flatwater in the season 2023 is Erik Vlček. Experienced paddler, 6-times Olympian, said upon the reception of the award: "I really appreciate this award. Every award is something extra and I appreciate it very much. I want to thank everyone who helped me with this. To coach Petr Liker, the Slovak Canoeing Association, the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee and the Police Sports Center. We athletes go into every season with full commitment, we put everything into it, and then it's decided by a few centimetres, and it's all the more regrettable. It's a sport and such things happen, but we don't give up, we still have a chance, we want to prepare responsibly, as we always do, even for continental qualifications. We will try to win the two Olympic spots that are in play. If we didn't believe in it, we wouldn't have started it." Slovak canoe sprinters failed to win a ticket for Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but have a chance of obtaining it next year at continental qualification event in Szeged, Hungary.
In wildwater section the following athletes also received awards: Jakub Grigar - male kayak paddler of the year, Matej Benuš - male canoe paddler of the year, Sona Stanovska - female canoe paddler of the year, Richard Rumansky - junior of the year, Zuzana Pankova - performance of the year.
In flatwater section the following athletes were awarded: Denis Myšak - male kayak paddler of the year, Bianka Sidova - female kayak paddler of the year, Peter Kizek - male canoe paddler of the year, Laura Ori - female canoe paddler of the year, Dominik Doktorik - junior paddler of the year, Peter Gelle - Akos Gacsal - performance of the year.
The athletes of non-Olympic disciplines that received an award for their achievements were Katarina Kopunova, who was named best non-Olympic athlete in wildwater section, and Romana Švecova in the flatwater section for her performances in 5000 metres sprint events and canoe marathon races.
Peter Cibak jr. was named best coach of the year in wildwater section, and Miroslav Stanovsky received an award for the coach of the year for younger categories. Peter Durec was named judge of the year in wildwater section.
In flatwater section, Peter Liker became coach of the year, while Mario Klieštenec received an award for coach of the year in youth categories. Martin Bielik was named judge of the year in this section.
The award for lifelong contribution to Slovak Canoeing went to Milan Oršula. A long-term active member of the highest governing bodies of the Canoe Sprint section of Slovak Canoing, he is also a long-term member of the Sports and Technical Commission. Jozef Martikan was introduced to the Hall of Fame. He is father and coach of two-time Olympic champion Michal Martikan, who won the first ever Olympic gold medal in Atlanta 1996 for independent Slovakia.
Photo: Peter Brichta
© 2021 ECA
