Australia’s Jessica Fox completed a hat-trick of gold medals while Czechia’s Jakub Krejci won his first senior world title on a thrilling day of kayak action in Oklahoma City, United States.
There was also a first medal for the host nation at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships with Evy Leibfarth bagging silver in the women’s K1.
Click here for the live start lists and results from Oklahoma City
Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods, Poland’s Michal Pasiut and Italy’s Giovanni De Gennaro were the other medallists.
Here is what all the medallists had to say after a fantastic Thursday.
Women's Kayak
Jessica Fox (AUS – gold)
I think you can see from my emotions how much this one means and it’s amazing to win today and be on the podium with Evy and Kim. I am grateful for the journey and everyone who has helped me to get back to the top step. I didn’t know I would get back here and to be able to do that feels amazing. Thank you to everyone, full of gratitude today. I just wanted to get back into the sunshine and get back into the water (when I was in hospital) and get back doing things that I love. Dreams come true.
Evy Leibfarth (USA – silver)
It feels surreal. It’s such a big dream of mine to get a medal at the World Championships, especially at home with my teammates, my family and friends here. I am so in disbelief.
I was really nervous paddling to the start block and I am glad that I was because I am telling myself that I am ready. I was really nervous because I cared and knew that I could do well. I knew that the second the start clock went zero and I started going that I would forget all about that and I would just paddle.
Kimberley Woods (GBR – bronze)
I weirdly have mixed emotions having had my touch and coming third but I am really happy to get back-to-back World Championships medals, last year in Penrith and to back it up with a bronze medal I feel really proud of myself.
I was a bit scatter brain warming up because I lost my shoes but everything was in place when I got to the startline. I am really proud of myself and glad that I could do it for everyone at home. I think my teammate accidently took my shoes by mistake and went back to the hotel so there was a bit of panic mood but we have got a really good team behind us that were on it and got my shoes back in time before my run and thankfully I had those couple of seconds before to settle, feel calm to just go and get it, have no regrets and leave everything out there.
I wish that my nan was still with me but she is in spirit and she will be really proud of me. To everyone at home it is extra special and hopefully I can bring a little bit more of that into the next few days of racing.
Men’s Kayak
Jakub Krejci (CZE – gold)
I feel amazing. I still can’t believe that happened and I really appreciate this. It’s so nice to make back-to-back podiums after last year when I was second behind Titouan. It’s amazing to have this gold around my neck. I didn’t feel confident training here but that’s why it’s more important to have the medal after three confident runs on this course which is really hard. I can’t explain what this mean to me right now. I struggled in the same parts of the course like everyone else but I kept my eyes open during the run and figured out the situation. There were tricky parts around gates three, four and five and 13 and 14 but I knew that I had to lose the speed and control and that’s what I did there. I just tried to push as hard as I could.
Michal Pasiut (POL – silver)
I cannot believe this actually happened so I cannot say much. All the feelings and emotions are crumbling in me and I certainly need some time to realise what happened to me in my life. I felt super good in the morning and put down a very good run in the semi-final. I really like the course and I felt powerful so I was really putting some faith in my skills and showed my ability and put down some super good runs. You cannot describe this. Some people wait their entire life and never get it. I am 35 years old. It’s super tough preparation for the season. It’s just unbelievable.
Giovanni De Gennaro (ITA – bronze)
I feel good. It wasn’t run that I wanted to fight the course. Luckily the second half of the run was enough to get me a medal. I feel lucky to get a medal today. I feel the times could be better. Jakub won with some mistakes which means that the pressure was on for everybody. It was a toughj race for everyone and I think everyone left something on the course. That’s how it goes. Jakub has been so solid all year so he definitely deserved it and I feel lucky to be on the podium.
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