Spain put on an impressive show at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom Ranking Race in La Seu D’Urgell, winning seven of a possible eight golds and dominating on home waters.
Maialen Chourraut, the 43-year-old three-time Olympic medallist, was the star of the show, capturing two titles, while talented teenager Oier Diaz, who is 25 years her junior, took gold in the men’s canoe final.
The first of Chourraut’s titles came in the women’s kayak, and the second in kayak cross, rounding off a successful weekend for the veteran paddler.
Fellow Spaniards David Llorente, Nuria Vilarrubla, and Manuel Ochoa all placed top of the podium in their respective events, while Coline Charel won the only non-Spanish gold medal of the weekend in the women’s kayak cross.
Chourraut won gold in the women’s K1 in 85.28. Charel was forced to settle for silver as she placed +0.13 behind the Spanish victor. Great Britain’s Lois Leaver completed the podium, taking bronze in 87.86.
Spain’s Llorente took first place in the men’s K1 in 79.04, defeating France’s Gino Benini in 79.72 and young compatriot Faust Clotet Juanmarti in 80.04.
Spain dominated the women’s C1 final as Vilarrubla stormed to gold in 89.17, and Ainhoa Lameiro took silver in 92.96. Andorra’s Monica Doria finished third in 93.08, after incurring a two-second penalty.
Diaz, the 18-year-old junior world champion, added another medal to Spain’s tally as the young paddler took gold in the men’s C1, with a time of 80.96. Great Britain’s Adam Burgess took silver in 82.31, as Slovenia’s Jus Javornik rounded off the podium with a bronze finish in 84.20.
Chourraut won gold in the women’s kayak cross individual as the Spaniard finished in a time of 54.04. France’s Romane Prigent secured silver in 54.32, and Great Britain’s Nikita Setchell placed third in 54.37.
Spain took two medals in the men’s kayak cross individual, as Ochoa powered to gold in 47.72. Llorente was close behind, with +0.07 seconds separating the two countrymen. Switzerland’s Martin Dougood settled for bronze in 48.37.
In the women’s kayak cross final, France achieved two podium finishes through Charel with gold and Romane Prigent with bronze, as Great Britain’s Leaver placed second.
Ochoa claimed his second gold in the men’s kayak cross, with compatriot Miquel Trave placing third. Sam Leaver followed in his sisters’ footsteps by taking home silver.
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