Mariecarmen Rivera Rivera of Puerto Rico and Shuri Araki of Japan clinched three golds in four fantastic days of racing at the International Canoe Federation Stand Up Paddling World Ranking Series double header in Crete.
Rivera and Araki were in sensational form on the Greek island, each capturing a hat-trick of titles across the two events in Sitia and Agios Nikolaos.
The first of those golds came in the technical races in Sitia before marking Agios Nikolaos’ 10th anniversary with victories in the technical and long distance races.
The opening day of competition in Sitia saw Rivera clinch the women’s technical crown in 6:38.817, beating Hungary’s Csillag Kocsis who finished in 6:44.377.
Spain’s Susak Molinero earned bronze in 6:57.019.
Araki triumphed in the men’s technical in 5:56.805, overcoming The Netherlands’ Donato Freens who picked up silver in 6:03.682.
A time of 6:08.038 saw Brazil’s Eri Tenorio clinch bronze.
On day two in Sitia, Rivera picked up silver in the women’s sprint as reigning world champion Katniss Paris emerged victorious.
The American athlete came out on top in a time of 41.670, as Rivera finished in 42.160 for silver.
Poland’s Hanna Dziedzicka Kaminska crossed the finish line in 43.410 for bronze.
Bulgaria’s Andrii Kraitor, another 2024 world champion, proved too strong as he clinched the men’s sprint title in 33.870.
Romania’s Matei-Alexandru Barbu sealed silver in 34.490, while Greece’s Phaedon Doukas bagged bronze in 35.610.
There was no stopping Rivera and Araki in Agios Nikolaos as they clinched two golds to complete their Crete hat-trick.
Rivera topped the podium in the women’s technical, taking the title in 10:14.618.
Kocsis clinched silver in 10:23.515, while the bronze went to Greece’s Kyriaki Logotheti who finished in 10:29.003.
Araki then captured men’s technical gold in 8:44.302 after getting the better of Freens who registered a time of 9:16.907 for silver.
Tenorio took bronze in 9:22.019.
Rivera wrapped up a stunning four days in Crete by bagging the women’s long-distance crown in 1:40:33.023.
Molinero earned silver in 1:42:03.379, while Logotheti delivered another bronze for Greece after crossing the finish in 1:42:21.703.
The men’s final proved to be another showdown between Araki and Freens.
Once again, Araki came out on top, winning in 1:21:36.238 as Freens had to settle for silver in 1:21:55.814.
Bronze went to Greece as Anastasios Tsouris secured the final place on the podium in 1:22:07.926.
Technical results from Agios Nikolaos
Long-distance results from Agios Nikolaos
Austria will stage the next ICF SUP World Ranking Series event when it hosts the SUP Alps Trophy THE LAKE ROCKS from May 29 to June 1.
More details on the 2025 ICF SUP World Ranking Series can be found here.
Pictures by Alex Macheras
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