Czech kayaker Veronika Vojtova celebrated World Champion title in front of her fans who filled the stands by the Vltava River. She picked up gold medal, finishing the race in front of Russian representative Polina Mukhgaleeva and German paddler Caroline Trompeter. The fourth finalist was American Ashley Nee.
“It was a perfect day for me, because I managed to win at home. My slalom run was not good before all the local fans, but now I am a world champion in slalom cross. What a super day. My last run was in Rio last year. I had many plans, but this is slalom cross, it’s a crazy time. My start was not good in the final, so I just had to wait for my time,” said Vojtova.
In men’s kayak final it was a fight between Brazilian Pedro Goncalves and three European paddlers: Vavrinec Hradilek from Czech Republic, Stefan Hengst from Germany and Nikita Gubenko from Russia. At the end Stefan Hengst crossed the finish line ahead of Nikita Gubenko and Pedro Goncalves, while Hradilek took fourth place.
“I enjoyed today a lot, it’s so good to race here in front of the Czech people. You can have a race plan, but it will not work. You have to react, and see what the others will do, and hope that you react right and go for the right line. Sometimes it goes good for you. I hope we can combine this more in the future, to maybe get it in the Olympics. That would be nice,” said the new World Champion.
With world championships also concluded this year’s season and the best in extreme slalom world cup series were - in women’s event: 1. Ashley Nee (USA), 2. Caroline Trompeter (GER), 3. Polina Mukhgaleeva (RUS), and in men’s event: 1. Pedro Goncalves (BRA), 2. Vavrinec Hradilek (CZE) and 3. Stefan Hengst (GER).
8.9.2019
