Great Britain’s Sam Leaver boosted his preparations for the upcoming International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships in Oklahoma City by capturing the U23 world title.
With just a few days to go before he heads off to the United States for a tilt at the senior world crown, Leaver delivered a timely victory in the men’s U23 kayak in Krakow, Poland on Friday.
Click here for live startlists and results from Krakow
Barbora Ondrackova led a Czech one-two-three in the women’s junior K1, while Austria’s Max Steinbrenner struck gold in the men’s junior K1 and Germany’s Paulina Pirro secured the women’s U23 K1 title.
Leaver feared a two-second penalty courtesy of a gate touch might’ve cost him top spot in the final.
But the British paddler’s time of 84.12 was enough to take gold as Spain’s Faust Clotet Juanmarti claimed silver in 84.26 and Italy’s Michele Pistoni earned bronze with 84.26.
“I would like to thank everyone who has helped me and stuck by me when I kept messing up year after year,” said Leaver.
“I thought I had messed it up when I got that touch so I can’t believe it happened.
“I am going home tonight.
“As I’m going to Oklahoma, my flight is booked for 10am so I am going home to pack.
“I’m just going to be on a Ryanair flight on my own tonight.
“I genuinely can’t believe it, it’s mad.”
Emotions were also high in the women’s U23 K1 final as Germany’s Pirro held on to win gold.
Pirro posted a time of 93.08 before nervously watching on as Spain’s Leire Goni attempted to usurp her.
But Goni fell short, finishing in 94.15 to take silver as Czechia’s Bara Galuskova bagged bronze in 95.26 that included a two-second penalty for a gate touch.
“It was a clean run and I am the new world champion so I am very happy,” said Pirro.
“It was okay.
“The first run was not so good, but my feeling was better in the second run.”
Czechia swept the podium in the women’s junior K1 with Ondrackova coming out on top after dipping under 100 seconds.
Ondrackova clocked 99.82 to take the title and complete a Czech one-two-three with Valentyna Kocirova second in 100.71 and Lucie Vaculova third in 102.20.
“I got to share the podium with the Czech girls, so I am so happy,” said Ondrackova.
“I didn’t know they were in podium positions before I started. This is the best I could imagine because I get to share this with my friends. It’s the best.”
Steinbrenner was the other gold medallist on Friday as he powered to the men’s junior K1 crown in 86.75.
France’s Leo Roye earned silver in 88.07 and Poland’s Marek Kulczycki clinched bronze in 89.04.
“It feels amazing,” said Steinbrenner.
“I did a very good job, The bottom section was really good. I pushed a bit more, the upstream gates were a bit better and that was it.
“I didn’t know if I would make the top three but I am so happy with this run.”
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