Spain tasted more success with victory for Aaron Sanchez Quetglas, and Puerto Rico’s Mariecarmen Rivera completed a golden double at the International Canoe Federation Stand Up Paddling World Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The technical category delivered fantastic finals as red-hot Rivera showed her class and Sanchez Quetglas overcame race favourite Shuri Araki of Japan to clinch gold in thrilling fashion.
Just 24 hours after winning her first world title with the women’s sprint gold, Rivera continued her sensational form with a stunning triumph in the women’s technical.
As soon as Rivera got the better of Spain’s Alba Alonso Frey before the first buoy, there was no looking back for the Puerto Rican.
Click here for live startlists and results from Abu Dhabi
Rivera was oozing confidence as she pulled away from her rivals before securing the title in 5:49.86.
Last year’s gold medallist Duna Gordillo of Spain had to settle for silver in 5:55.18 as compatriot Alonso Frey, who won silver in Friday’s sprint final, earned bronze in 6:02.18.
“I feel great, this is a dream come true,” said Rivera.
“I just dreamed for it and I made it happen so it’s amazing.
“I felt in my zone and I did the perfect race. I was the first to the first buoy which was the key to the race. I also felt strong in the upwind so I increased my distance in every upwind section.
“At the end, I was like I have got this, I have got this.”
Rivera is now bidding to make history by becoming the first paddler to win three gold medals at a single World Championships when she competes in Sunday's long distance.
“When I was training I was thinking that I can make the three distances,” said Rivera.
“I am aiming for gold in the long distance too.
“I want to compete tomorrow already. I want to get it done and enjoy it.”
The men’s technical final turned into a thrilling tussle between Spain’s Sanchez Quetglas and Japan’s Araki.
Sanchez Quetglas got off to a blistering start before Araki got the edge at the first buoy and started to forge ahead.
It looked like it would be Araki’s day as he started to motor but Sanchez was refusing to go away, clinging on to his coattails.
After the penultimate buoy, Sanchez Quetglas overhauled Araki with a brilliant turn of pace before surging ahead.
Araki had no answer to Sanchez Quetglas’ speed as he crossed the finish line in 5:12.60 to secure another gold for Spain after Friday’s sprint success for Sergio Cantoral.
It was a second successive technical silver for Araki who finished in 5:17.94, while fellow Japanese paddler Rai Taguchi came third in 5:18.90.
“I feel both very happy and destroyed at the moment, it’s a 1k race but for me it’s so, so long,” said Sanchez Quetglas.
“I felt a lot of pain.
“But suddenly something gave me a lot of power.
“When Shuri went a bit behind me, I pushed more than him.
“This is all new to me to win a world title.
“This is my fifth World Championships. This is the first time I got a medal and it’s gold.”
Results
Men’s Technical
- Aaron SANCHEZ QUETGLAS (ESP) 5:12.60
- Shuri ARAKI (JPN) +5.34
- Rai TAGUCHI (JPN) +6.30
Women’s Technical
- Mariecarmen RIVERA (PUR) 5:49.86
- Duna GORDILLO (ESP) +5.32
- Alba ALONSO FREY (ESP) +12.32
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