CANOE-KAYAK: Three first-time champions in four events in World Slalom Championships

2015 World K-1 Slalom Champion Jiri Prskavec (CZE). (Photo: Martin Dvoracek via Wikimedia Commons)

Three new World Champions were crowned in the third time that the ICF Slalom Worlds were held at the famed course in La Seu d’Urgell in Spain.

The men’s C-1 title went to France’s Cedric Joly, not just a first-time World Champion, but a first-time Worlds medalist; his previous best in a Worlds had been fifth last year.

It was about the same story in the women’s C-1, with German Andrea Herzog – who had never been better than seventh at a Worlds – who took the title over Australian star Jessica Fox thanks to Fox’s two penalties along the route.

Fox won two silvers to push her record women’s World Championships career medal total to 15.

The women’s K-1 winner, however, was Slovenia’s Eva Tercelj, again a first-time World Champion and her first individual Worlds medal. She had won two World Cup medals during the season, so her win wasn’t a complete shock.

American teen Evy Leibfarth had an excellent Worlds debut, completing her run cleanly (0 penalties) and finishing fourth overall; she was only the seventh-fastest on the course, but nearly won a medal by avoiding any penalties.

The one familiar face on the top of the podium was Czech Jiri Prskavec, who won his second world title – previously in 2015 – and ninth Wolds medal. Summaries:

ICF World Slalom Championships
La Seu d’Urgell (ESP) ~ 25-29 September 2019
(Full results here)

Men

C-1: 1. Cedric Joly (FRA), 90.84 seconds (0 penalties); 2. Ander Elosegi (ESP), 91.35 (0); 3. Luka Bozic (SLO), 91.92 (2); 4. Alexander Slafkovsky (SVK), 92.65 (0); 5. Denis Gargaud Chanut (FRA), 94.28 (2); 6. David Florence (GBR), 95.86 (0); 7. Thomas Koechlin (SUI), 96.83 (9); 8. Martin Thomas (FRA), 97.41 (2).

K-1: 1. Jiri Prskavec (CZE), 84.26 (0); 2. David Llorente (ESP), 85.96 (2); 3. Joan Crespo (ESP), 87.22 (0); 4. Bradley Forbes-Cryans (GBR), 87.91 (2); 5. Joseph Clarke (GBR), 88.70 (4); 6. Vit Prindis (CZE), 88.91 (4); 7. Antoine Launay (POR), 89.31 (2); 8. Lucien Delfour (AUS), 91.35 (0).

Women

C-1: 1. Andrea Herzog (GER), 100.52 (0); 2. Jessica Fox (AUS), 101.46 (2); 3. Nadine Weratschnig (AUT), 106.45 (4); 4. Evy Leibfarth (USA), 108.10 (0); 5. Klara Olazabal (ESP), 109.23 (2); 6. Tereza Fiserova (CZE), 109.90 (2); 7. Nuria Vilarrubla (ESP), 110.70 (2); 8. Monica Doria Villarrubla (AND), 113.20 (10).

K-1: 1. Eva Tecelj (SLO), 94.27 (9); 2. Fox (AUS), 94.69 (0); 3. Luuka Jones (NZL), 94.77 (0); 4. Katerina Kudejova (CZE), 95.76 (0); 5. Ricarda Funk (GER), 97.21 (2); 6. Kimberley Woods (GBR), 99.04 (2); 7. Stefanie Horn (ITA), 100.63 (2); 8. Elena Apel (GER), 104.63 (2).