The day awaited by the whole world arrived. Three Olympic spots were up for grabs in both men's and women's categories. France’s Angele Hug and Spain’s Manuel Ochoa both won kayak cross gold on the final day of the International Canoe Federation World Cup in Prague, but both now face a nervous wait to learn if they will get to compete at the Paris Olympics.
Behind every success lies a lot of hard work. Gabriela Satková's triumph at the World Cup in Prague's Troja, however, required something more. "I knew I had to show something special to beat the girls. It's not enough just to go down the course without mistakes. So I went for it, and I am very happy with myself," laughed the twenty-two-year-old canoeist at the finish line. "I really tried to take risks."
From the morning, he knew this race would be different. "I was nervous, I focused more. This is what I lacked in kayaking, probably because I'm aiming for a different peak there," described Jiří Prskavec at the finish line, already as the winner of the World Cup in the singles category. In a dramatic race in Prague's Troja, he triumphed ahead of Slovenian Benjamin Savšek and Frenchman Nicolas Gestin. The women's race was dominated by Gabriela Satková, ahead of Jessica Fox from Australia and Germany's Andrea Herzog. They were supported in the stands by Petr Pavel, the President of the Czech Republic.
The three-day program of the World Cup in Prague was opened by the women's and men's kayak categories. The top ten athletes in each category advanced directly from the qualifications to the finals. In the women's category, Emma Vuitton from France dominated, while the men's category was won by the Italian athlete Giovanni de Genarro.
On Friday (7 June 2024), the long-awaited ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup begins in Prague. Due to high water levels, the program had to be adjusted. On Friday, kayakers will start, Saturday will be dedicated to the canoeists' race, and Sunday's kayak cross will determine last spots at Olympic Games in Paris.
The sparkle in her eyes is absolutely evident, whether she’s in canoe slalom or near airplanes. "I’m definitely riding a wave right now," smiles kayaker Antonie Galušková, who secured her spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics through a tough domestic nomination. Until recently, she was studying to become a transport pilot at CTU. "But because of sports, I switched to aircraft maintenance technology, which is something like an aircraft mechanic. I couldn't keep up."
A reception in honour of the stars who will compete this weekend at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague-Troja (7-9 June 2024) was held in the exceptional premises of the Mayor’s Residence of the City of Prague. The Mayor of Prague, Bohuslav Svoboda, welcomed all the athletes and guests present. Alongside him, the championship was officially opened by the Chairman of the Czech Canoe Union and former Olympian, Stanislav Ježek, and Jean-Michel Prono, Chairman of the Canoe Slalom Committee of the International Canoe Federation.
The ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup returns to Prague for the twentieth time! This significant sporting event, which annually attracts the attention of fans from all over the world, will once again bring a unique atmosphere and excitement to the Czech capital. Before the start of the race, a press conference was held where the Czech Olympians and the head of the World Cup organizing committee, Jiří Rohan, met with media representatives.
Fans of canoe slalom can rejoice! The final races of the Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague - Troja 2024 will take place as planned. Despite the initially high water flow levels in the Vltava River, the races will be organized, and the final races remain on schedule. There has been a change regarding the Thursday qualifications, which have been moved to Friday. Tickets for the event are valid as originally planned, so no fan will miss out on the best runs.
The start of the World Cup race in Prague has been postponed to Friday due to the increased water flow levels in the Vltava River!