This year's canoe slalom World Cup series will start in Prague's Troja in mid-June. Despite the difficult situation in the world, the competitors can compete in the first international races this weekend. There will be a ranking race in Solkan, Slovenia, on March 27-28, where kayaker Amálie Hilgertová, for example, is about to start.
Just a couple of months ago, when it was finally decided that the 2020 ECA European Canoe Slalom Championships goes to Prague, nobody had a clear vision and prediction how it was going to be organised in such difficult times. But also in these days, the organising committee in cooperation with volunteers and with huge support from all international fans managed the event well. For all these reasons, we would like to thank to all participants, sportsmen, organisers and first of all, the volunteers and the fans of this beautiful sport.
Complete results from 2020 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships to download below:
The last races of the 2020 ECA European Canoe Slalom Championships in Prague were the team competitions of women kayakers and men canoeists. Czech kayakers Kateřina Kudějová, Veronika Vojtová, Antonie Galušková won the European title. A great drama was offered in the race of canoeists. At first, it looked like the triumph of the Czech crew. After the arrival of the Slovenes, who were faster, the Czechs fell to the silver medal, but later an additional 50-second penalty was lit for the Slovenes. It disappeared again after a few minutes and, on the contrary, reappeared with the Czechs for badly passing of the gate 6. In the final ranking, the Czechs have an unpopular fourth place; the European champions are the team of Slovenia.
The last individual competition of the 2020 ECA European Championships in Prague was the C1 men final. The thrilling battle has brought the victory to the Slovenian experienced competitor Benjamin Savšek, who also managed to defend his title from last year. The Czech joy for the next medal double – silver Lukáš Rohan and bronze Václav Chaloupka. Rohan will also represent in Tokio 2021.
The dramatic finals were performed by women kayakers on Sunday afternoon in Prague's Troja. The Czech Republic had four boats in the semi-final and two of them reached the podium, including the highest one. Kateřina Kudějová became the European Champion, Camille Prigent of France took the silver and Amálie Hilgertová won the bronze.
Benjamin Savsek of Slovenia was the fastest in the men´s C1 semi-final on Sunday afternoon (20) at the 2020 ECA European Canoe Slalom Championships in Prague. Also all three Czech canoeists qualified for the final in the afternoon - Václav Chaloupka, Vojtěch Heger and Lukáš Rohan.
The Czech competitor Václav Chaloupka showed a clear run with 107.36 s and qualified straight away to the final. “The run was good, I was surprised. I think I managed well the tough combinations and I am very pleased after all. I have nothing gto lose in the final. The Olympic dream is still alive so I will fight,” said Chaloupka.
The Sunday morning (20) at the 2020 ECA European Canoe Slalom Championships in Prague belonged to the semi-finals. First on the start lists were the women kayakers. The course 250m long had the 20 paddlers on the start list also with the quartet of Czech competitors including the defending European champions Amálie Hilgertová and the Tokyo Olympian Kateřina Kudějová.
The afternoon competitions of the 2020 ECA European competitions on Saturday 19 September belonged to the C1 women and K1 men team competitions. The performance of the home canoeists secured gold medal to Tereza Fišerová, Gabriela Satková and Tereza Kneblová. The kings of the kayak teams became Quentin Burgi, Boris Neveu and Mathurin Madore.
The men´s kayak final in Prague – Troja had a unique atmosphere on Saturday afternoon (19/09). There was no need of the exciting moments and top sport performances. The final runs were very fast. The main favourites were the home trio of kayakers – the ttile defender Vít Přindiš, world champion Jiří Prskavec and Olympic medallist from London Vavřinec Hradilek.
