The obstacle slalom competition in Buenos Aires kicked off with women’s kayak and men’s canoe events and men’s kayak and women’s canoe events followed the next day in Puerto Madero. Emanuela Luknarova from Slovakia produced the best time in women’s final, while Doriane Delassus from France finished the race in second position. Lai Tzu-Hsuan from Taipei was third. “It’s been a good day, I felt strong while I was racing and it was enough for a gold medal, so I’m happy,” said 16-year-old Luknarova.
Top two positioned paddlers of women’s kayak event competed in medal races of canoe event as well. This time it was Doriane Delassus of France who had the best performance in the final. After already having a medal in her pocket from the previous day, it was easier for her to compete in canoe event, “I was a little more calm today, because I had already a medal, so if I didn’t get anything today, I already had something. I’m in a hurry to go back to France and show my medal to my family and friends.” Germany’s Zola Charlotte Marion Lewandowski picked up silver medal and kayak Youth Olympic Champion Emanuela Luknarova added bronze to her collection.
It was a stressful day in Argentina for Slovenian kayaker Lan Tominc. He came to Buenos Aires as winner of K1M qualification event in Barcelona earlier this year, but he also carried a bit of burden of his predecessors in Slovenian team. In the previous two editions of Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and China Slovenia won two gold medals in obstacle slalom in men’s K1. Lan Tominc continued the winning streak started by Simon Brus in 2010 and success of Anže Urankar from 2014. Tominc produced the fastest time of the day in the final against China’s Changheng Guan. Tom Bourchardon from France was third.
“I was just trying to be calm as much as possible. But I was not calm. I was shaking. I’m still shaking, but now I am shaking with joy. I knew he was going to be tough. I just tried to think about everything else, the course and the crowd cheering,” said Tominc after the race.
In the fourth slalom obstacle event of Youth Olympic Games European paddlers celebrated a medal as well. Spanish canoeist Yoel Becerra Bernanrdez won bronze medal. Terence Benjamin Saramandif from Mauritius surprisingly took gold, while Finn Anderson from New Zealand won bronze medal.
Sixteen countries from all continents have won medals in canoeing competition (head to head sprint and obstacle slalom combined), with European ones being at the top as Slovakia, Hungary and France each won three medals.
Next Youth Olympic Games will be organised in 2022 in Dakar, Senegal. This will be the first IOC event that will be organised in Africa.
RESULTS – Obstacle slalom
K1W
1. Emanuela Luknarova SVK
2. Doriane Delassus FRA
3. Tzu-Hsuan Lai TPE
C1M
1. Terrence Benjamin Sarmandif MRI
2. Finn Anderson NZL
3. Yoel Becerra Bernardez ESP
C1W
1. Doriane Delassus FRA
2. Zola Charlotte Marion Lewandowski GER
3. Emanuela Luknarova SVK
K1M
1. Lan Tominc SLO
2. Changheng Guan CHN
3. Tom Bouchardon FRA
Photo: Rok Šribar