More French success combined with splashes of home joy and doses of delight for rising stars created a superb International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague.
Played out in front of packed crowds in glorious sunshine, the third spot on the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup was one to remember.
Let’s pick out the five things we learned from this World Cup over the past three days.
Click here for the full results from Prague
French reigning supreme
Almost a year after hosting the Olympic Games, France is becoming a dominant force in Canoe Slalom.
The French team have got the season off to a stunning start, winning medals across all three World Cups.
In Prague, France enjoyed a clean sweep of the men’s canoe medals.
Nicolas Gestin captured his first international title since his Olympic gold as he led a one-two-three for his country with compatriots Mewen Debliquy and Yohann Senechault joining him on the podium.
It was an epic race with the top three separated by 0.08 and Gestin winning by 0.03.
There is a French duopoly emerging in the men’s K1 as Titouan Castryck and Anatole Delassus finished one-two for the second time this season.
Castryck triumphed again with Delassus placing second for the third successive World Cup.
Other medallists for France were Camille Prigent and Mathurin Madore.
Pankova and Leibfarth show future is bright
There is one thing having great potential, but the other is turning that into success on the big stage.
Both born in 2004, Zuzana Pankova and Evy Leibfarth are the future of the sport, and this World Cup will be remembered as a milestone moment in their careers after capturing gold.
It was their first World Cup victories with American paddler Leibfarth winning K1 gold and Slovakia’s Pankova capturing the C1 crown.
Pankova, a 2022 junior world champion, flew down the course to secure the title, while Leibfarth, the Olympic bronze medallist in C1, overcome a mid-race wobble to clinch K1 gold before going on to add a kayak cross bronze.
The pair are now set to head to Foix, France where they will do battle at the Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships.
Moments for Czech fans to savour
One of the reasons why Prague is a big favourite among the athletes is the amazing atmosphere created on race days.
The Troja course is always packed with fans cheering for every competitor, especially those from Czechia.
On Friday and Sunday, the decibel levels reached great heights when they roared their home paddlers to victory.
The Satkova sisters marked short slalom’s first appearance at a World Cup with a moment for Czech fans to savour.
It might not have been an unofficial ICF event, but it delivered one of the highlights of the week when the sisters ensured a Czech one-two with Gabriela Satkova taking gold and Martina Satkova sealing silver.
After Czechia missed out on a medal on Saturday, Tereza Kneblova ensured the hosts finished the World Cup on a high with victory in the women’s kayak cross.
It was stunning display from the 22-year-old as she celebrated her first World Cup win.
Mixed fortunes for serial winner Fox
Leaving Prague with two gold medals in her bag is Australia’s Jessica Fox.
That’s an impressive return but there will still be some frustration for the three-time Olympic champion.
Prior to Prague, Fox had looked unstoppable in her canoe, winning in La Seu and Pau but that hot streak came to an end after failing to make the C1 final.
Fox, however, did taste some success in her kayak for the first time this season.
The Australian paddler stormed to victory in the K1 short slalom, which was a demonstration event on Friday, but she was unable to pick up a medal the following day.
Fox’s disappointment in the C1 was followed by an eighth placed finish in the K1.
However, Fox bounced back again on Sunday when she triumphed in the women’s kayak cross individual to come away with two Prague titles and underline her status as a serial winner.
Cut above the rest
Sat on the start ramp for second heat of the men’s kayak cross were New Zealand’s Finn Butcher and Great Britain’s Joseph Clarke.
The pair contested the Olympic final last year with Butcher securing gold and Clarke claiming silver.
Clarke was back after the birth of his second child but his appearance in Prague was short lived as he was faulted in the heat.
Butcher, meanwhile, proved a cut above the rest as he swept to victory with a dominant display in the final.
The New Zealander might be the Olympic champion, but he had never achieved a World Cup gold until Sunday.
After three silvers and a bronze, Butcher’s persistence finally paid off with a first-ever World Cup gold in Prague.
It is a big boost for Butcher as he looks to add a world title to his Olympic gold later this year, but Clarke will be determined to make it a fourth successive kayak cross world crown.
Photos by Dezső Vékássy
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