Three-time Olympian Ana Satila won a golden double and fellow Olympians Zachary Lokken and Evy Leibfarth also won gold on the final day of slalom competition at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Satila, who competed at the London, Rio and Tokyo Olympics, won the women’s C1 and kayak cross gold medals. She now has five Pan American golds, dating back to her first in Toronto in 2015.

“For this sport, you need support and Brazil is very good at it,” Satila said.

“That’s why we have many young athletes who are very dedicated to canoeing and live for this sport.”

Lokken, who made his Olympic debut in Tokyo, won his second men’s C1 Pan American gold, while fellow Tokyo debutant Leibfarth won her second women’s K1 gold.

“I am really happy,” Leibfarth said.

“At first, I found it challenging due to the strength of the river and I felt I had reached my limit because my arms were tired. I was nervous because I saw the performance of my competitors, but I didn’t pay attention to that.

“I focused on my race. I couldn’t imagine winning a gold medal for my country.”

Another American, 22-year-old Joshua Joseph, won the men’s K1, adding to the silver he won in extreme kayak in 2019.

Brazil’s Guilherme Mapelli won the men’s kayak cross gold.

USA Zac Lokken Tacen 2023

Canoe Slalom
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