News

It was a busy and long day in Portugal during the second competition day of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships. Future stars of canoe sprint first fought for the remaining places in the finals of 500 and 1000 metres events, and in the afternoon heats over 200 metres were held. Also, four paracanoeing heats in KL events were held at the end of the competition programme.

 

Paddlers from more than 30 European countries were trying to book a ticket in Sunday's 200 metres finals directly from the Friday's heats, so there were some intense fights happening in Montemor-o-Velho. Some were happy, and some will seek their opportunity to start in the Sunday's final in the 200 metres semifinals, which are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

 

Agnes Kiss (HUN) was one of those lucky ones, who set the fastest time of the day and were given a direct pass to the final on Sunday. She was successful in women's junior C1 200 metres heats. Her teammate David Koczkas (HUN) also produced the fastest time of the day in men's C1 U23 200 metres event and also booked a place in final A.

 

The host nation was very happy with performances of their athletes in women's C1 U23 200 metres heats and in men's K1 U23 200 metres event. Namely, Beatriz Fernandes and Pedro Casinha (POR) both set the fastest times in their respective events with the loud support from the stands.

 

Ukrainian Vitalii Prystai was the fastest paddler of the day in men's C1 junior 200 metres heats, Krista Berzina (LAT) in women's junior K1 200 metres event, Irene Bellan (ITA) in women's K1 U23 200 metres heats and Alex Borucki (POL) in men's junior K1 200 metres event.

 

At the end of the competition day parakayakers in men's KL2 and KL3 200 metres events were fighting for the spots in the finals. The top three placed athletes from each of the heats secured themselves a place in the final A, while the rest will need to go to the semifinal and seek their chances there. The fastest trio in men's KL2 200 metres heats were Federico Mancarella (ITA), Mykola Syniuk (UKR) and Markus Swoboda (AUT), while Mateusz Surwilo (POL), Stuart Wood (GBR) and Juan Valle (ESP) produced the fastest times of the day in men's KL3 200 metres heats.

 

 

The first finals of the 2023 ECA Paracanoe and Junior/U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships will be contested on Saturday. We will follow ten A finals over 1000 metres and six paracanoe VL finals.