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The season 2021 was a memorable one for one of the best European Canoe Federations in history. Slovak Canoeing held a ceremony to remember all the successes and to award those stars who shone the brightest in the past season.

His major goal for the upcoming season is European Championships in his home town in Liptovsky Mikulaš which is just a little over a month away. “It is the biggest peak of the season for me, because you always want to show yourself in good light in front of the closest fans. My other ambitions remain the same as every year. Demonstrating nice runs at top events and hoping that some precious metal will fall out of it.”

The best athlete of the year in flatwater was Erik Vlček, 4-times Olympic medallist, who won bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics in K4 together with Samuel Balaž, Denis Myšak and Adam Botek.

Peter Nagy, who passed away last December, was posthumously introduced to the Hall of Fame. He was a member of Slovak (and Czechoslovak national team prior to that) canoe slalom national team from 1990 to 2001 and represented Slovakia in Kayak at 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.

These were not the only awards given at a ceremony, so below you can find a full list of those who made an impact in 2021.

Sportsman of the year – wildwater: Jakub Grigar – silver medal OG Tokio 2020, winner of 2nd World Cup race, 2ns place at World Championships 3x K1 with Martin Halčin and Adam Gonšenica

Sportsman of the year – flatwater: Erik Vlček – bronze medal Og Tokio 2020 with Samuel Baláž, Denis Myšák and Adam Botek

Female kayaker of the year – wildwater: Eliška Mintálová

Female kayaker of the year – flatwater: Marianna Petrušová

Male canoeist of the year – wildwater: Matej Beňuš

Male canoeist of the year – flatwater: Matej Rusnák

Female canoeist of the year – wildwater: Monika Škáchová

Junior of the year – wildwater: Zuzana Paňková

Junior of the year – flatwater: Bianka Sidová

Coach of the year – wildwater: Stanislav Gejdoš

Coach of the year – flatwater: Andrej Wiebauer

Coach of the year – junior category – wildwater: Peter Murcko

Coach of the year – junior category – flatwater: Eugen Honti

Achievement of the year – wildwater: 2nd place at OG Tokyo in MK1 of Jakub Grigar, coach Stanislav Gejdoš

Achievement of the year – flatwater: 3rd place MK4 at OG Tokyo, coaches Peter Likér and Andrej Wiebauer

Judge of the year - wildwater: Vladimír Hužička

Judge of the year - flatwater: Martin Bielik

Sportsman of the year in non-Olympic disciplines - wildwater: Ladislav Daník

Hall of Fame: Peter Nagy (in memoriam)

Source: https://www.canoe.sk/sk/divoka-voda/clanok/kanoistom-roka-2021-je-strieborny-olympionik-jakub-grigar

Photo: Peter Brichta