Czechia’s Tereza Kneblova and Spain’s Miquel Trave claimed their first senior world titles on an entertaining day of canoe action in Oklahoma City, United States.
Trave became Spain’s first-ever winner of the C1 world crown, with Great Britain’s Adam Burgess and Czechia’s Lukas Kratochvil earning siler and bronze, respectively.
Kneblova also came out on top, clinching the women’s C1 title as Andorra’s Monica Doria sealed silver and Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska bagged bronze.
Here is what the medallists had to say after a fantastic Friday.
Click here for the live start lists and results from Oklahoma City
Women’s Canoe
Tereza Kneblova (CZE – gold)
It’s incredible. I cannot describe it. I am still trying to process it but it’s unbelievable so I would like to thank everyone. It’s something that I will never forget. I was pretty nervous so I was surprised that I was able to put down a solid run and I was even more surprised that it was enough for a gold medal. It’s crazy. I think it was a good lesson to me to not be in the team for one year because I really pushed myself in training and was more focused on it. I think something bad can be good for some things. I am really good that I made it back and it’s incredible. It’s a long run to the Olympic Games, I want to live in the present so right now I want to enjoy this moment and we will solve this afterwards.
Monica Doria (AND – silver)
Right now, I am over the moon because during my run I thought I was going to be out, for sure. I had many mistakes but I just pushed it until the end and finally it was enough so I am so so happy right now. I was super nervous going out last in the final of a World Championships is not easy but I was sure that I could do another run like I did before so I just wanted to find the flow and navigate. I really wanted this medal. I was visualising and projecting towards it and I wanted it for some years now so it’s so good to see the results come up. It’s a bit more special coming here at the Olympic venue for LA, even though it is a different course but definitely. It has been a really cool two weeks preparing for this race. It’s been really cool, just hanging out with other athletes which is my favourite part of this.
Klaudia Zwolinska (POL – bronze)
I’m in shock. This race was really tough for me. I had the medals from last year and I felt so confident on this race and I thought I could keep hold of these medals but it has been really tough in the finals, even this final. It was not easy for me so I feel lucky and I feel grateful that I have this bronze medal. It means a lot to me and I am really happy for that. If I need to give the crown to someone, it would be Tereza. We, as Canoe Slalom athletes, are like a family and I really support the girls. I am really happy that Jessica (Fox) is back, I’m really happy for Tereza and I am really happy for Monica as well. Even though she beat me, this is what is beautiful about the sport, I love this sport and today I have a bronze medal.
Men’s Canoe
Miquel Trave (ESP – gold)
It feels incredible, it’s like a dream. I work really hard to make it and finally I could deliver a good run in the final so I’m really happy. It means a lot to be able to world title finally, it’s really good. It’s taken me many years. I am really excited that I could make it before going to the home World Championships so hopefully next year I will be fighting for it again.
Adam Burgess (silver – GBR)
I have had a bit of a curse at World Championships finals. It’s my fourth one and finally get onto the podium. I am super stoked for Miguel as I know the journey that he has been on. I was hurting for him when he was fourth last year. I had heard his run and knew what time he had done. I knew it had to be something special to compete with that. I have not seen the run back yet, it’s all a bit of a blur so I was so happy to replicate my semi-final run. My build up has been tricky. I was racing well at the World Cups, getting bronze and silver at the last two. I landed here feeling great and got a disc injury in my back. The first week was rough. I spent more time on the physio table that on the water and there were moments where I didn’t feel I was going to get on. A big shout out to our physio Alex for getting me back in shape. I had a good last week run up to this. I have had a good run up being here. It’s a fantastic course, the speed on the water and technicalities of it. When I came here in April, I was quite surprised how pushed I was technically. At my level and at my age, that’s a real treat actually, something to get stuck into.
Lukas Kratochvil (CZE – bronze)
It’s crazy. It’s my first senior World Championships and it’s a medal. I am really stoked. It’s an incredible feeling. At training, the course was really hard. The stream is really strong, it just worked out in the race. I felt good after the qualification run where I was second but after the semi-final it wasn’t such a good run but I just tried to clean it and do my best. I would like to thank an incredible amount of people like my lovely girlfriend, my family, everyone who has supported me and watching. It’s crazy, I’m out of words.
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