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The first gold medal of Sunday’s programme at the 2025 ECA Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom European Championships was claimed by Spain’s Anna Simona, who took the junior women’s individual kayak cross title. She won by 1.19 seconds ahead of Germany’s Mina Blume, while bronze went to Great Britain’s Olwen Yates.

 

In the junior men’s category, Slovenia’s Ziga Lin Hocevar secured his third kayak cross title of the year. After winning both individual and kayak cross events at the Junior World Championships in Foix in July, he once again stood on the top step of the podium in the individual kayak cross final. He beat Slovakia’s David Skubik by over one and a half seconds, with France’s Clement Davy taking bronze.

 

In the following event, Slovenian fans celebrated another medal - this time a bronze in the women’s U23 kayak cross, earned by Ziga Lin’s older sister Eva Alina Hocevar. She finished behind two athletes from Czechia: new European champion Tereza Kneblova and silver medallist Katerina Bekova.

 

The Slovenian anthem played once more in honour of Jan Locnikar, who achieved one of the biggest successes of his career. In the men's U23 individual kayak cross, he posted the fastest time of the day in the event to claim the European title in his debut season competing in kayak cross. He finished 0.38 seconds ahead of France’s Martin Cornu, with Poland’s Tadeusz Kuchno taking bronze.

 

In the afternoon, the kayak cross elimination phases took place. The women's U23 kayak cross final was particularly dramatic. Due to penalties, the finishing order changed significantly after the competitors crossed the line. Czechia’s Tereza Kneblova, who initially crossed first, was relegated to third place. France’s Nina Pesce-Roue was promoted to the top of the leaderboard and celebrated the European title. Slovenia’s Eva Alina Hocevar climbed from fourth to second, earning her second medal of the day and fourth individual medal at this championships, following two U23 European titles in kayak and canoe. Poland’s Dominika Brzeska, who had originally crossed the line in a podium position, dropped to fourth due to an error.

 

Germany celebrated two victories. First, in the junior women’s kayak cross final, Britta Jung impressed with her performance, joined on the podium by France’s Laurette Laly and Spain’s Ainara Goikoextea.

 

Germany’s second win came in the very last final of the championships, where Felix Sachers delivered a tactically brilliant run in the men’s U23 kayak cross event. France’s Martin Cornu secured his second silver medal of the day, while his compatriot Ianis Triomphe claimed bronze.

 

In the junior men’s kayak cross final, Czechia took home two medals. Michal Kopecek was crowned the new junior European champion, while Martin Panzer secured bronze. They were joined on the podium by young British paddler Gwion Williams, who took silver.