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The national anthems of Ukraine and Czechia were played in Kolna Sports Centre to honour the winners of kayak cross events at the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023. Viktoriia US (UKR) was the best in women’s kayak cross final, while in men’s final Ondrej TUNKA (CZE) crossed the finish line in first place.

The canoe slalom competitions at the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023 concluded with the youngest of the disciplines – kayak cross – which will make an Olympic debut in Paris 2024.

In exciting women’s kayak cross final Ukrainian representative Viktoriia US celebrated a win ahead of German Ricarda FUNK and Italian Stefanie HORN. Martina WEGMAN (NED) was also the finalist but was left outside the podium position after the mistake she did on the course.

Vitkoriia US (UKR) was celebrating a big win in the finish of women’s kayak cross event after she almost did not start in the race. Namely, the multitalented canoe slalom paddler, who competes in kayak, canoe and kayak cross, suffered an injury after the bike fall, and she seriously considered whether she should start in the kayak cross event or not.

“I do not know what is happening right now. I am shocked! These last few days were very hard for me. I fell from bike and did not feel good. My whole body aches. It was a hard decision, whether to race or not. I decided to do it and I am very happy with it. I won gold medal, I still cannot believe it. Tomorrow I will understand it, but not today. I just tried to have a good start and fight until the end,” said US.

Equally exciting was men’s kayak cross final. Ondrej TUNKA (CZE) was the winner of the race, Austrian Felix OSCHMAUTZ won silver medal and Vit PRINDIS (CZE) was third. Boris Neveu (FRA) was fourth.

“It feels incredible. I am super happy. I was happy that I made it to the quarterfinal. After every run it was better and better. I think I made the difference in the first upstream. I managed to be there in the first place, then in the last one, the other guys went to the gate on the right side and I was alone, so it was quite easy at the end. I was lucky,” said TUNKA.

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.