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On Friday, two sets of medals have been awarded to the best in men’s and women’s canoe team events at the Canoe Slalom venue in Kolna Sports Centre. Germany won gold medal in men’s event and Czechia in women’s team canoe competition of the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023.

German canoeists Franz ANTON, Timo TRUMMER and Sideris TASIADIS won their second consecutive gold medal in men’s canoe team event in Europe, after last year’s team European Champion title.

On the Vistula River, they produced an excellent run and were almost four seconds faster than their closest rivals, the team of Slovakia with Matej BENUS, Alexander SLAFKOVSKY and Marko MIRGORODSKY.

Ryan WESTLEY, Adam BURGESS and James KETTLE (GBR) won bronze medal.

“It’s feels great. It is awesome paddling with these two legends and winning again after last year and to win a medal at the European Games,” said Timo TRUMMER and added, “They give me a little bit of confidence.”

Franz ANTON had an excellent day in the office on Friday, first winning the individual canoe heats in the morning and later claiming gold medal in the team event. “I always expect to win,” joked a bit at the beginning the 2018 world champion ANTON, and continued, “There are some days when you wake up and feel the confidence before the situation you have and this is one of the days. I hope I will be able to keep it running until Sunday.”

The two times Olympic medallist Sideris TASIADIS was very happy with the performance of the German team. “This was nearly a perfect run. We were so close from the start until the finish line. I think it was better than last year, when we also won. I was happy on the course, I felt the water and the boys gave me extra push from behind. We tried to do our best and to be close enough together,” said TASIADIS.

In women’s canoe team event, it was Czechia with Tereza FISEROVA, Tereza KNEBLOVA and Gabriela SATKOVA winning the gold medal and European Champion titles, ahead of teams from Great Britain and Germany.

“It is really good; the course is very hard for the team races. But we went very fast, so I am really happy,” said FISEROVA.

Czechs did not have a penalty free run, as they had a touch on gate 20, on the penultimate gate before the finish line, but even the two penalty seconds that were added to their time, kept them in the winning position.

“We made a few mistakes, especially me, but we just repaired it the best we could. Problems always happen, it is how you solve them. We solved them very well and this is why we celebrate gold medal,” said Gabriela SATKOVA.

The third member of the winning team was Tereza KNEBLOVA, who was second in morning individual canoe heats. “I am very happy with today’s results. I feel really good on the water and I am really glad. Especially for the team events, because it is really special to experience it with someone else. I am glad we made it and we will celebrate it after,” said KNEBLOVA.

Mallory FRANKLIN, Kimberley WOODS and Sophie OGILVIE (GBR) were 2.80 seconds behind to win silver medal, while Germans Andrea HERZOG, Nele BAYN and Elena LILIK crossed the finish line 4.06 seconds behind the Czech team.

On Saturday, the canoe slalom competition at the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023 continues with semifinal and final runs in men’s and women’s kayak in the first part of the programme, and kayak cross time trials in the afternoon.

The complete competition schedule and results can be found here.

European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023 is the Europe’s biggest multidisciplinary sporting event in 2023. More than 7 thousand athletes are competing in 26 sports and 29 disciplines for 253 gold medals. More than that, European Games 2023 are part of the qualification process for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 in 19 sports. This great celebration of sports starts with opening ceremony in Krakow on 21st of June. The closing ceremony will take place on July 2nd.