Jessica Fox came back emphatically to win the women's canoe title as Luka Bozic returned to the podium after a long gap at the 2025 International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup in La Seu d'Urgell, Spain.
Australia's Fox was not her usual self in the kayak on day one, failing to qualify for the final, but showed her class to bounce back and bag the C1 gold medal.
The Olympic and world champion had a gate touch at 4 but still managed to clock 98.42, more than four seconds faster than the silver medallist Miren Lazkano of Spain at the Segre Olympic Park.
Lazkano opened the account for the hosts, crossing the line in 102.52, with Czechia's Martina Satkova claiming bronze in 102.80.
Click here for live results from La Seu
Fox’s victory is all the more impressive considering she qualified ninth in the heats, where some big names bowed out.
Paris 2024 stars Kimberley Woods of Great Britain, Evy Leibfarth of the United States, and Noemie Fox of Australia did not qualify for the final.
K1 medallists in La Seu on day one, Monica Doria of Andorra and Sona Stanovska of Slovakia, also crashed out in the heats.
It was a special moment for Slovenian Bozic, who claimed the men's C1 gold medal after a difficult 2024.
Missing out on the selections for the Olympic Games in France was hard to take for the 34-year-old, who was also struggling with knee problems.
In La Seu, he put on a show in the opening World Cup of the season, taking the top spot on the podium in 87.62.
It was his first medal of any colour at a World Cup.
Blistering pace saw Adam Burgess of Great Britain qualify as the fastest in the heats but he had to settle for silver in the final despite a clean run.
A difference of 0.06 helped Olympic champion Nicolas Gestin of France post 89.29 and pip compatriot Yohann Senechault for the bronze medal.
The Slovenian pair of Benjamin Savsek and Ziga Lin Hocevar could not make it count in the heats, finishing 13th and 14th.
After the disappointment of K1, there was no respite for Czech superstar Jiri Prskavec, who also missed out on the top 12.
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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