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Hungarian athletes climbed to the top of the podium three times on Friday. In the first race of the day – the junior women’s kayak – Hungary celebrated a double victory with Lotti Jambor and Janka Reisz taking gold and silver. Jambor crossed the finish line 56.80 seconds ahead of her teammate, while Italy’s Cecilia Abascia came in third, trailing by one minute and 21 seconds.

 

Last year’s U23 world champion in the canoe category, Mihaly Pluzsik of Hungary, secured the European title this time over a 19-kilometre course. He beat Poland’s Eryk Wilga, last year’s European champion in Poznan, by 14 seconds. Bronze went to Spain’s Dario Sanchez.

 

Lili Matkovics also reached the top of Europe, winning the women’s U23 canoe race. The Hungarian paddler, who claimed the world title last year in this event, finished with a commanding lead of one minute and 22 seconds. Czech paddler Tereza Kodetova took silver over the 11.8-kilometre course, and Poland’s Agata Kowalak claimed bronze, finishing two minutes and 48 seconds behind.

 

In both U23 kayak events, Danish representatives took top honours. Pernille Hostrup defended her title in the U23 women’s kayak, which she had won last year in Poland. She had to work hard for the victory, finishing just 1.31 seconds ahead of Hungary’s Panna Csepe. The bronze medal went to Spain’s Alba Esteban, who was nearly 20 seconds behind.

 

Denmark’s Philip Knudsen confirmed his dominance in the U23 men’s kayak, defending his European title and continuing his reign as the reigning world champion in the event. He completed the 26.2-kilometre course in 1:53:33.15. Portugal’s Francisco dos Santos delighted the home crowd with a silver medal, while Spain’s Izan Aliaga claimed bronze.

 

In the men’s junior canoe double event, Spain’s Jaser Silva and Hector Vazquez took gold. Hungarians Mate Tosa and Illes Hancz finished second, 36.49 seconds behind. The bronze medal also went to Spain, won by Alex Barrerio and Mateo Lago.

 

The 2025 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships in Ponte de Lima continues on Saturday with four senior events and two junior races. Titles will be contested in men’s and women’s kayak and canoe categories among seniors, and in junior men’s kayak and women’s junior kayak double.