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Nine Europeans with a chance to win a ‘Golden paddle’

Nine Europeans with a chance to win a ‘Golden paddle’ 12.12.2018

The public voting period and the first round of Academy voting for the World Paddle Awards has ended and the names of the three finalists in each of the categories are known. Nine European nominees have found a place among the finalists and they are represented in all seven award categories.

 


Canoe Sprint European and World Champion Fernando Pimenta from Portugal is a finalist in Sportsman of the year category, alongside with Australians Curtis McGrath and Cory Hill. In the sportswoman of the year category we find Hungarian Canoe Sprinter Danuta Kozak, Australian Jessica Fox and Canadian Laurence Vincent-Lapointe. The three finalists in the Junior of the year category are Thorbjorn Rask (DEN), Ottilie Robinson Shaw (GBR) and Sophia Jensen (CAN), while the team of the year award will go either to Team Germany Canoe Polo, Outer Harbour Warriors (CAN) or Shell Va’a (PYF). Rob Thompson (GBR), Joe Mornini (USA) and Bradley John Fisher (RSA) are finalists for the foundation award, and Olaf Obsommer (GER), Daniel Stach (CZE) and Craig Freimond (RSA) have a chance of winning a Media Professional award. In the Lifetime achievement category Csaba Szanto (HUN), Jackie Dillon (AUS) and Claudia Kerckhoff van Wijk (CAN) reached the final stage.
 
After the excellent season 2018 and an achievement that went into history, it was a bit surprising not to find Spanish canoe slalomist Miquel Travé among the nominees for the Junior of the year award. Double European Junior champion – in K1 and C1 – and junior world champion has now been recognised differently. In recognition of his sportsmanship, Miquel has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Academy of Paddlesports.
 
“This year we nominated nine juniors, of which three are in Slalom. Because it was a ‘special’ year with the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina, we felt it was important to nominate some of the juniors there, so we ended up with two of the three Slalom nominations from those Games. Not being nominated - or not winning the final award - can be very emotional for athletes, for whom the nomination is considered a huge achievement. In his acceptance of the decision, Miquel, at only 17 years of age, has shown more sportsmanship and grace than anyone else in his position over the years. In so doing, we truly believe he has transcended his 2018 results (two European and one World Championship,” said WPA president Rob van Bommel.
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