Serbia’s Strahinja Dragosavljevic was inspired by Superman as he shared top spot with reigning world champion Messias Baptista of Portugal in a gripping men’s kayak single 200m final in Szeged.
Wearing his lucky t-shirt emblazoned with the Superman logo of his chest, Dragosavljevic flew down the Hungarian course to seal his first International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Cup title.
Dragosavljevic was joined at the top of the podium by Baptista after they both finished in a time of 34.66.
“It was a crazy feeling,” said Dragosavljevic.
“In the K1 200m final last year I was eighth, so to have this close race and share the gold medal is a really great feeling.”
Click here for live results from Szeged
Dragosavljevic said his decision to wear his Superman t-shirt came after his experience at the 2023 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships.
“During the race, the announcer was saying ‘Superman in lane number five is going well’,” said Dragosavljevic.
“I liked it so whenever I’m in the A final I wear this t-shirt and now it is my lucky charm.”
With Dragosavljevic and Baptista crossing the finish line together, Spain’s Carlos Arevalo followed in 34.79 to take bronze.
Among the other non-Olympic event finals, there was success for the likes of Brazil’s Isaquias Guimaraes Queiroz, New Zealand’s Aimee Fisher and Canada’s Katie Vincent.
Queiroz comes back fighting to secure crown
After crashing out of the men’s canoe single 1000m yesterday, Brazil’s Guimaraes Queiroz returned to top form to clinch the men’s C1 500m title.
Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) Zakhar Petrov set the early pace before being overhauled by Guimaraes Queiroz who sealed gold in 1:47.80.
Petrov achieved silver in 1:48.34, with Romania’s Catalin Chirila coming third in 1:48.51.
“It was a difficult race as there were many strong competitors but my feeling was very good and I finished first,” said Guimaraes Queiroz.
“I am more relaxed for this Olympic cycle and it’s important to get a medal in the 500m as it starts the preparations for Los Angeles 2028.”
Fisher marks 1000m debut with gold
Making her first appearance on the international stage in the women’s K1 1000m, Fisher emerged victorious.
Fisher, who usually focuses on 500m events, tussled with Hungary’s Zsoka Csikos before finding an extra gear.
The New Zealander took the win in 3:55.89, with Csikos earning silver in 3:57.22 and compatriot Eszter Julia Rendessy finishing strong to clinch bronze in 3:58.71.
“That was my debut racing 1000m internationally so I wasn’t really sure what I was in for today,” said Fisher.
“It was an epic race and I am really happy with how it went.
“It’s been a bit hit and miss and it’s been a very slow build up getting back up to speed.
“I am still trying to focus on the 500m and trying to do the 1000m based on that training.”
Yu delivers gold for China
A margin of 0.12 separated the top two in the men’s C1 200m final as China’s Yuebin Yu got the edge over Spain’s Pablo Grana.
Yu earned gold in 39.12, as Grana picked up silver in 39.24 and AIN paddler Ivan Shtyl grabbed bronze in 39.40.
Vincent victorious on return after Olympic glory
Canada’s Vincent proved too strong for China’s Yanan Ma as she claimed the women’s C1 500m title.
The Olympic champion in 200m was victorious in 2:05.43 as Ma came second in 2:06.24 and Spain’s Maria Corbera bagged bronze in 2:09.14.
“I am really happy with that,” said Vincent.
“It was a tough wind out there but I stuck to my race plan.
“It was a competitive final so there were moments when I had to stay calm and wait for the right moment to bring it home.”
Poland beats Hungary to C2 title
Poland’s Sylwia Szczerbinska and Dorota Borowska saw off Hungarian pair Agnes Anna Kiss and Bianka Nagy to secure women’s C2 200m gold.
The Polish duo won in 44.10, edging Kiss and Nagy by 0.30 as AIN paddlers Marina Gureeva and Ekaterina Shliapnikova came third in 44.47.
AIN overcomes Hungarian teams for C4 triumph
The last final of the day saw the AIN team of Dmitrii Sharov, Mikhail Pavlov, Alexey Korovashkov and Matvei Arsenov triumphed in the men’s C4 500m final.
They defeated two Hungarian crews, with Domonkos Buday, David Hodovan, Jonatan Daniel Hajdu and David Uhrin winning silver and Mate Kurczina, Gergely Istvan Lugosi, Milan Meszaros and Iliasz Mitropoulos collecting bronze.
All the results from today’s races can be found here.
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