Czechia continued its superb showing in Foix, France with two more gold medals, while the United States and Spain were also celebrating success in canoe. 

It was a pulsating day of C1 action as Lukas Kratochvil and Marketa Stepankova struck gold for Czechia, Spain’s Oier Diaz triumphed and American star Evy Leibfarth came out on top. 

Here’s what all the medallists had to say after Friday’s competition at the International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships.  

Click here for startlists and live results from Foix

Women’s Canoe U23 

Evy Leibfarth (USA – gold) 

“It’s such a special race as you only get so many years. I’m racing out here with people that I grew up with podiuming which is kind of crazy. I have been chasing the C1 gold for a while. I’m really happy that I was able to put down a run that I was really proud of. It’s been one of my goals since I was very young, especially to have it in C1. I think every race it’s good to go out with a set of goals and do the best you can. I really wanted it. I went out at the start, and I knew that everyone else in this final was also gunning for it. I paddled as hard as I could, I got a really good feeling on the water which is always really great. 

Zuzana Pankova (SVK – silver) 

I had the fastest time as well as yesterday, but it was a touch on gate four again. Yesterday, it put me out of the medals and today it put me out of first place. I am happy with my performance. I am maybe too close to the poles but I’m happy that I was able to put down pretty good runs and I am enjoying this moment. Gate four is quite a pickle for me these days. Without the touch, it was otherwise a perfect. I am still happy with a medal. It’s not gold but I’m happy. I will do my best on Saturday and Sunday, but you never know with kayak cross. I will fight for it, but we will see. 

Eva Alina Hocevar (SLO – bronze) 

This is my sixth consecutive medals. I won four medals last year and this year I am two form two, so it feels amazing. I am a bit angry with my mistake in the end. I think I wanted it too much, but I am still really happy that I managed to get on the podium. It’s been a really good season so far. I feel well prepared, and it will continue to be like this in the second half of the season and I will feel like I do today in Australia and maybe in the fight for the medals there as well. 

Men’s Canoe U23 

Lukas Kratochvil (CZE – gold) 

I have been waiting for this for a very long time, and I got it so I’m very grateful. It felt very good out there. I had to go full throttle. There were little mistakes, but it worked out and I’m glad. Guys like Mewen (Debliquy) and Yohann (Senechault) are amazing and I’m happy that I was able to race them. It was incredible. The Czech support here has been incredible. We have a really good team. On the water, I can’t hear anything, but I heard them when I crossed the finish line. It feels amazing. 

Oliver Puchner (NZL – silver) 

I am so happy. I can’t believe it as well. To be sitting there with all those other guys and being in that top position was crazy. I was super stoked at the end. I was a bit emotional a couple of moments after. Now it’s just disbelief. I have never made the final, I’ve been battling for the past couple of years to make the final, last year I was 12th. I wanted to get there and just do my run and see what I could do so to get on the podium I’m super stoked. 

Alex Segura (ESP – bronze) 

I didn’t expect this at all. It’s unbelievable. I didn’t think I would win, I thought I would be close, maybe top five but not a medal. I felt quite good, better than the semi-final run, and got this medal. I was hearing the cheers all the time. I don’t know how to describe. The support was so big. 

Women’s Canoe Junior 

Marketa Stepankova  (CZE – gold) 

The run was good, but I didn’t expect it to be that good. I have so many feelings, I can’t find the words. I was second in qualification and second in the semi-final and I thought maybe there was a chance, but I didn’t expect that at all. I was thinking about how everyone has supported me and that I had to do great during the run. I am the most happy as our teammates did fantastic work in cheering. 

Neele Krech (GER – silver) 

I am really happy. I was feeling super strong at the start. The run was really good. The Czech paddlers are very strong. At the finish, there were still three boats after me. I hoped that I would have a medal. 2023 was my first year racing internationally and this is my first World Championships medal. 

Zoe Blythe-Shields (GBR – bronze) 

I am really happy. It didn’t put the best semi-final time down with my touches, so I am glad that I could pull it together and do a good final. There was frustration from the semi-final and my kayak not going great at the beginning of the week, so I definitely wanted to pull it together. It’s my final year as a junior so I was leaving it until the last minute to get a medal, so I am really happy with it. It will be hard in the U23 but hopefully I can step up. 

Men’s Canoe Junior 

Oier Diaz (ESP – gold) 

I don’t believe I have won. I have no words. My goal was to get a medal. I didn’t mind the colour. I had a medal so I was very happy. Those two (Hocevar and Titouan) had to go after me and they are really fast. When I saw Titouan have the touch, I had feelings that I can’t explain. I felt really good. I planned with my coach to do gates seven and eight backwards. I ended up only doing one backwards. I felt really good during the run and when I finished I knew it was going to be something big compared to the U23 times. 

Ziga Lin Hocevar (SLO – silver) 

The touch was so stupid. I saw Mewen do the same in the final in the morning. I was thinking I can’t do that and I did the same. From that, my rhythm just broke and I didn’t do as I should have done it. The kayak cross is the only discipline that I really want to win. It’s all or nothing. Today, I felt like I can win and it was the only thing that mattered today. It’s not bad. Being second at the World Championships and having a third consecutive medal is unbelievable. It’s my 13th medal out of 16 possible in juniors which I think no one will ever break. 

Titouan Estanguet (FRA – bronze) 

My run was clean but I touched nine and I can’t win today. I am disappointed but it’s a positive to get a medal. Yesterday, I was third in the kayak and today I was third in canoe as well so maybe next time I can get the win.