Low water levels brought competition to a premature end at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Freestyle World Championships – but it did not stop the party in Plattling, Germany.
No action could take place on Plattling’s Isar Wave for the final two days of competition as water levels fell below the minimum requirement set by the German Canoe Federation.
Under the ICF’s rules, if an event is not completed due to cancellation, the Competition Committee in these exceptional circumstances establishes the final results based on the last event phase completed.
Therefore, the results from the last completed round for all the remaining categories will stand as final.
The decision means that Great Britain’s Ottilie Robinson-Shaw comes away with two more gold medals to complete a hat-trick in Plattling.
After winning the women’s squirt crown with a dominant performance on Thursday, Robinson-Shaw collected top prizes for both the women’s canoe and women’s kayak after topping preliminaries and quarter-finals, respectively.
It is Robinson-Shaw’s ninth world gold, including seven in seniors and two in juniors.
“I’ve paddled and trained really hard for many years,” said Robinson-Shaw.
“This is my ninth World Championship gold medal which a 14-year-old Otti just wouldn’t believe.
“It’s been difficult, but I realised at the World Cup here last year that if you want to win you have to treat every round like a final and it paid off.
“Unfortunately, the water dropped but it meant that I achieved my biggest goals.”
Joining Robinson-Shaw on the women’s kayak podium were Poland’s Zsofia Tula and Great Britain’s Rebekah Green who claimed silver and bronze, respectively.
In the women’s canoe, Robinson-Shaw picked up gold, with Anica Schacher of Germany collecting silver and Austria’s Jasmin Stangl-Brachnik bagging bronze based on the preliminary results.
There was further joy for Great Britain in the men’s canoe with Matthew Stephenson sealing top spot after leading the standings in the semi-final.
France’s Tom Dolle placed second, with Great Britain’s Harry Price picking up bronze.
“It’s super crazy, I can’t quite believe it,” said Stephenson.
“I’m absolutely delighted.
“This has taken a lot of time on the river, it’s been 10 years of playboating, spending time with wonderful people learning to kayak and enjoying the river.
“I never thought I would become world champion at all, I was getting quite used to coming fourth and fifth, so this is a dream for me.”
Dolle was crowned champion in the men’s kayak based on the quarter-final results with the semi-finals and final unable to be contested.
It is a first senior kayak crown and second world title for Dolle who achieved men’s canoe gold in 2019.
“I am super hyped,” said Dolle.
“I had won the C1 gold before but only a podium in the kayak, so I am super stoked to get first.
“To get it here in Plattling means a lot to me as this is where I did my first ICF competition in 2016 so I am so happy.”
Germany’s Tim Rees achieved silver, while Great Britain’s Gavin Barker collected bronze.
The open canoe category was won by Ireland’s Eoghan Kelly after he finished first in the preliminary round.
United States paddler Jordan Poffenberger, the 2013 champion, received silver, with the bronze going to Great Britain’s Harvey Harwood.
“This means a lot,” said Kelly.
“It’s been a long time, and a lot of work has gone into it so it’s nice to finally do it and bring a gold medal to Ireland.
“It’s great to be part of a team that is growing.”
Terry Best, Chair of the ICF Canoe Freestyle Committee, added: “I am delighted by how the community came together and worked with us.
“They were so supportive and understood that there was very little we could do about the river level.
“We saw some great paddling early on. It’s just a shame we had to finish early because the river level went down.
“The other highlights were the Development Camp as all of the athletes went home with a set of kit and boats that were donated by Pryanha Kayaks, Jackson Kayak and Spade Kayaks.
“Having the cadets for the first time was also fantastic and they really enjoyed the experience.”
Pictures by Peter Holcombe
Today’s results
Women’s Kayak
1 – Ottilie Robinson-Shaw (GBR)
2 – Zofia Tula (POL)
3 – Rebekah Green (GBR)
Men’s Kayak
1 – Tom Dolle (FRA)
2 – Tim Rees (GER)
3 – Gavin Barker (GBR)
Women’s Canoe
1 – Ottilie Robinson-Shaw (GBR)
2 – Anica Schacher (GER)
3 – Jasmin Stangl-Brachnik (AUT)
Men’s Canoe
1 – Matthew Stephenson (GBR)
2 – Tom Dolle (FRA)
3 – Harry Price (GBR)
Open Canoe
1 – Eoghan Kelly (IRE)
2 – Jordan Poffenberger (USA)
3 – Harvey Harwood (GBR)
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Related links
- Double delight for GB as Robinson-Shaw and Wilson crowned world champions
- Great Britain star in squirt as Nelle boosts home hopes in canoe in Plattling
- Jackson competing with broken leg at World Championships in Plattling
