There was double delight for Brazil, Great Britain and Ukraine as they all secured two gold medals each on an action-packed day at the International Canoe Federation Paracanoe World Cup in Poznan.
Luis Cardoso da Silva and Igor Alex Tofalini were the two-gold medallists for Brazil after they both got the better of Paralympic champions.
It was a Brazilian one-two in the men’s VL2 as Tofalini beat his good friend Fernando Rufino de Paulo.
The result was a reverse of the Paralympic final in Paris as Tofalini gained revenge over Rufino who had to settle for silver on this occasion.
Click here for start lists and results from Poznan
Tofalini crossed the line first in 53.33, as Rufino took silver in 53.79 and Portugal’s Norberto Mourao claimed bronze in 54.90.
“This is a very important win for me,” said Tofalini.
“It’s great to be alongside these Paralympic athletes. They are only rivals on the water. Off the water, they are big friends.
“I have put in some really big work to be the best prepared for the World Championships in Milan.”
There were gripping finishes in the KL1 class as the two reigning Paralympic champions were pipped on the line.
Cardoso Da Silva crossed the line in 46.78, edging Hungary’s Peter Kiss who finished in 47.30, while compatriot Robert Suba collected bronze in 55.21.
“I feel excited to get the gold medal,” said Cardoso Da Silva.
“I was just concentrating on myself and on winning my own battle on the water and not looking at the other side.
“But when I saw that I won it felt so good.
“This win is so good for me.
“I am happy to start the Paralympic cycle and prepare myself to compete at the Paralympic Games in 2028.”
In the women’s KL1, Maryna Mazula of Ukraine was triumphant after holding off Katherinne Wollermann of Chile.
It was a fight for the finish, with Mazula beating Paralympic gold medallist Wollermann by 0.30.
The Ukrainian secured gold in 54.29, as Wollermann took silver in 54.59 and Canada’s Brianna Hennessy bagged bronze in 57.18.
“It was a good race and a good start to the season,” said Mazula.
“I didn’t see (Wollermann) but I felt that I was first and I won.”
Ukraine’s second gold medal was won by reigning Paralympic champion Vladyslav Yepifanov in the men’s VL3.
Yepifanov powered to victory in 47.22, seeing off Brazil’s Giovane Vieira de Paula who clinched silver in 48.39, while Great Britain’s Stuart Wood sealed bronze in 48.82.
“I was pleased to hold my level to get first place,” said Yepifanov.
“After the Paralympic Games, I am not at my best level so I tried to do my best to get the best result possible.”
The day ended with two titles for Great Britain as Charlotte Henshaw and Laura Sugar cruised to victories.
Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Henshaw swept to the women’s KL2 title in 48.74, underlining her dominance with a win by four seconds.
Germany’s Anja Adler clocked 52.79 for silver, while Prachi Yadav delivered bronze for India with a time of 55.94.
“I am more pleased with my execution today than I was on Thursday so that’s always a step forward,” said Henshaw.
“It’s nice to be back out there. It’s my first international start since Paris and those eight months feel like a long time.”
Great Britain picked up another gold when double Paralympic champion Sugar captured the women’s KL3 crown in 47.08.
Germany’s Felicia Laberer took silver in 47.59, while Great Britain’s Hope Gordon edged Spain’s Maria Jimenez for bronze in 48.34.
“I am really happy with that as it felt better than the heats,” said Sugar.
“It’s nice to be back in the finals again and racing.
“It was a really great race with a lot of people in the mix for the medals there and that’s what we want in the KL3.
“It was nice to have such a strong field.”
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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