Local fans that gathered in the Zaslav regatta course in Minsk were very loud when their favourites were paddling in the final and fighting for the podium positions. The biggest success of the day for the Belarus team was in women’s K2 500 metres final where Volha Khudzenka and Maryna Litvinchuk produced the best time to win the gold medal at the European Games in their home country.
“We had our own strategy. As you saw we were in front from the beginning and our goal was to not let anyone overtake us. We did not paddle together with Olya since 2013. So we can say this is our first year together. This is very very good result for us,” said the local heroines after the gold medal.
Hungarian duo Anna Karasz – Danuta Kozak was second and Russians Kira Stepanova – Anastasia Panchenko picked up bronze medal.
The second medal for the Belarus team was in men’s K1 1000 metres final where Aleh Yurenia won bronze medal. Balint Kopasz from Hungary was the fastest kayaker in the final and won the gold medal, while Fernando Pimenta from Portugal won silver medal. Pimenta was second in the same event also four years ago at the European Games in Baku.
Polish paddler Tomasz Kaczor was the winner in men’s canoe 1000 metres final. “After yesterday’s heats I suspected I will be able to get this gold medal. I did not have any special tactics, just to go straight and be the fastest. The race was very good, I cannot describe how I feel right now,” said the new champion.
Russian canoeist Kirill Shamshurin won silver medal and the defending champion from four years ago Sebastian Brendel from Germany was third.
In men’s K2 1000 metres final German kayaker Max Hoff won his third gold medal at European Games. Four years ago he celebrated in K1 1000 and 5000 metres events, while today he paddled together with Jacob Schopf to win another important race of his career. Oleksandr Syromiatnykov and Oleh Kukharyk from Ukraine were second and Vladislav Litovka – Roman Anoshkin from Russia were third.
The last final of the day was men’s C2 1000 metres event. Romanian crew Catalin Chirila – Victor Mihalachi showed the most strength on the course in very hot conditions to win gold medal in front of Ukrainian duo Yurii Vandiuk – Andrii Rybachok and Russians Kirill Shamshurin – Ilya Pervukhin.
In the afternoon part of the programme heats and semifinals in 200 metres events are scheduled.
RESULTS
MK1 1000m
1. Balint Kopasz HUN
2. Fernando Pimenta POR
3. Aleh Yurenia BLR
MC1 1000m
1. Tomasz Kaczor POL
2. Kirill Shamshurin RUS
3. Sebastian Brendel GER
WK2 500m
1. Volha Khudzenka – Maryna Litvinchuk BLR
2. Anna Karasz – Danuta Kozak HUN
3. Kira Stepanova – Anastasia Panchenko RUS
MK2 1000m
1. Max Hoff – Jacob Schopf GER
2. Oleksandr Syromiatnykov – Oleh Kukharyk UKR
3. Vladislav Litovka – Roman Anoshkin RUS
MC2 1000m
1. Catalin Chirila – Victor Mihalachi ROU
2. Yurii Vandiuk – Andrii Rybachok UKR
3. Kirill Shamshurin – Ilya Pervukhin RUS
26.6.2019
