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German kayaker Ricarda Funk left the Olympic venue in Vaires-sur-Marne disappointed last year, but this time she showed a completely different face and delivered an outstanding, penalty-free run in a tense women’s kayak final to claim her fourth European champion title (including her win at the European Games in Krakow 2024). At the finish line, she had a 3.23-second advantage over Czech paddler Gabriela Satkova, who picked up a two-second penalty for a gate touch. Young Slovak athlete Zuzana Pankova, who also finished without any penalties, placed third, 4.31 seconds behind.

 

“I am just really happy. I have nearly no words for today. Now I am friends with this course, I am friends with Paris. I am really happy. The start was pretty hard for me. I was afraid of the gate number one, because it is really difficult. I am really happy with the top part,” said Funk after winning another title in her career.

 

In the men’s kayak final, Czech paddler Jiri Prskavec wrote a new chapter in European canoeing history, winning his seventh career European champion title, including his title from the European Games Krakow 2024 — a record of its kind. The kayaker, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Sunday, completed the course without errors and finished 1.21 seconds ahead of young French kayaker Titouan Castryck. Third place went to Slovenian Martin Srabotnik, achieving the biggest success of his career so far.

 

After the success the Czech canoe slalom paddler said: “This one is super special, because it is my first ever medal in France. I have so many fans here, and I really like this place and everything. I am just happy I made peace with Paris and France. This one means a lot to me!”

 

The women’s canoe final brought a bit unexpected result, as Andorran Monica Doria emerged as the best. This is the first senior gold medal at any Championships for the 25-year-old, who had already won the junior European title in canoe eight years ago. Back then, Czech Gabriela Satkova took bronze — and this year in France she secured silver in kayak. In addition to Monica Doria, two French paddlers stood on the podium of today’s canoe final. Laurene Roisin came second with four penalty seconds, finishing 3.03 seconds behind, while Doriane Delasuss took third with one touch and a 3.5-second deficit.

 

“Right now it feels like a dream come true. Junior title was a long time ago. I really wanted a medal here in Paris, and it is really nice that I managed to have a good run in the final and it was enough for the win. It is really amazing,” said Monica Doria.

 

In the final event of the day, the Spanish anthem played in honour of the men’s canoe winner. After a mistake by home favourite Nicolas Gestin in the final part of the course, the European champion title went to Spanish paddler Miquel Trave, who delivered a clean run with a time of 87.32. Despite the mistake and a penalty touch that cost him the title on the course where he became Olympic champion last year, Gestin secured the silver medal. Third place went to not-yet-18-year-old Slovenian Ziga Lin Hocevar, who was defending the senior European champion title he won last year at the home course in Ljubljana – Tacen. Hocevar finished 1.69 seconds behind the winner.

 

The new European Champion Miquel Trave could not believe what he achieved: “Nicolas was in front at first, we all know he is really fast, the fastest in the world. He made a mistake in the last gate and I could not believe it. I am really happy for this title. My run was really good, obviously it is never perfect, but it is one of the best I could do and deliver it in the final. I am really enjoying the moment. I really love this sport and I feel strong this season.”

 

This time the gate setup caused problems for several top competitors. Among those who failed to make it to the final were defending European champions Andrea Herzog and Giovanni de Gennaro (who also won Olympic gold medal on this course), as well as Olympic medallists Adam Burgess and Matej Benus, and Sideris Tasiadis, Camille Prigent...

 

On Sunday, the 2025 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships will conclude with the kayak cross individual events and kayak cross elimination phase (heats, quarterfinal, semifinal, final).