Hungary ended Germany’s kayak four winning streak, while home favourite Balint Kopasz denied South Africa’s Hamish Lovemore a shock victory at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Cup in Szeged.
Germany had been undefeated for almost two years in the men’s K4 500m, securing the world title in 2023 before capturing back-to-back World Cup crowns and sealing Olympic gold in 2024.
But the German team’s run came to an end as Hungary’s new-look quartet of Mark Opavszky, Bence Fodor, Gergely Balogh and Zsombor Akos Tamasi triumphed by just 0.21.
It was nip and tuck all the way with Hungary winning in 1:20.32, beating the German crew of Max Rendschmidt, Max Lemke, Jacob Schopf and Anton Winkelmann who clocked 1:20.53 for second.
There was another Hungarian team on the podium as Bence Nadas, Zalan Imre Hidvegi, Hunor Tamas Hidvegi and Gergo Zoltan Keller sealed bonze in 1:20.55.
Click here for live results from Szeged
“We are so happy,” said Balogh.
“This is a new K4 in this formation. We just got together last week.
“It is a total surprise for everybody and for all of us so we are very happy.
“We are quite young so this gives us a lot of benefits and we can focus on our other goals. It gives us a lot of motivation.”
South Africa’s Lovemore came within a whisker of pulling off a sensational win in the men’s K1 1000m final.
It was a top-class field that featured six of the eight Olympic finalists, including Paris 2024 champion Josef Dostal of Czechia.
But it was Lovemore that surprised them all and almost emerged victorious, pushing Kopasz all the way.
Kopasz, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist, won in 3:29.65, edging Lovemore who took silver in 3:29.82, while a late surge from Dostal saw the Czech seal bronze in 3:32.10.
“It was a great race for me,” said Kopasz.
“I am very satisfied with my form and it was a cutting-edge performance.
“I saw the South African racer going very hard but I also went maximum speed in the last 150m so I am very happy to win this race.”
Spanish quartet powers to K4 crown
The women’s K4 500m title went to Spain as reigning Olympic and world champions New Zealand, who are without the legendary Lisa Carrington this season, missed out on a medal.
The Spanish quartet of Sara Ouzande, Lucia Val, Estefania Fernandez and Barbara Pardo pulled away in the second half of the race, winning in 1:33.80.
Second place went to Hungary’s Aliz Gombas, Emese Kohalmi, Laura Ujfalvi and Hanna Peto in 1:34.93, while Germany’s Paulina Paszek, Jule Marie Hake, Pauline Jagsch and Hannah Spielhagen came third in 1:34.93.
“It feels so good, it was a very hard race,” said Pardo.
“We are working together a lot and it’s the beginning of something good for us.”
Fuksa begins season with dominant success
There was no stopping reigning Olympic champion Martin Fuksa of Czechia from winning men’s C1 1000m gold in Szeged.
Fuksa forged ahead and did not look back, storming to a dominant victory in 3:54.64.
Italy’s Gabriele Casadei finished strongly to earn silver in 3:56.24 as Romania’s Catalin Chirila completed the podium in 3:57.45.
“It’s very nice after quite a few months since the Olympic Games to be standing on the middle box on the podium,” said Fuksa.
“I am really happy that I can win another race at a World Cup.”
Poland’s Pulawska holds firm to take victory
Poland’s Anna Pulawska had the staying power to see off China’s Nan Wang and Australia’s Natalia Drobot in the women’s K1 500m final.
It was a three-horse race as they battled for pole position before Pulawska clinched the win in 1:50.77.
The silver medal went to Wang in 1:51.51 as Drobot got the better of New Zealand’s Aimee Fisher to take bronze in 1:51.54.
Kiss and Nagy secure another gold for hosts
Hungary’s Agnes Anna Kiss and Bianka Nagy ensured more home success when they won the women’s C2 500m title.
Spain’s Maria Moreno and Viktoriia Yarchevska burst out of traps, establishing an early lead only for Hungary to come roaring back.
Kiss and Nagy took victory in 1:57.12 as China’s Mengya Sun and Yanan Ma came from behind to take silver in 1:57.48 and Moreno and Yarchevska crossed in 1:57.65 for bronze.
“We are very happy because of this achievement,” said Kiss.
“It was a great race, we had a really strong finish and this is why we could win.
“I really love racing in Hungary in front of my family and friends. It’s one of the best courses and was a really good experiences for us.”
All the results from today’s races can be found here.
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