LIPTOVSKY MIKULAS, July 8 2024 - If these world championships are anything to go by, the future of canoe slalom is looking good. They were held from 2-7 July in Liptovsky Mikulas, situated between the Tatra and Low Tatra mountains in a scenic national park and tourist region, which is a perfect venue for both summer and winter events.
The small town 285km from Slovakia’s capital Bratislava is renowned for nurturing young talent in many sports. In fact, Liptovsky Mikulas athletes have gained countless Olympic and world championship medals in recent history. The famous alpine skier Petra Vlhova was born here and still lives and trains nearby. Canoe slalom’s big names also rank among the members of the local club, Ktk Dukla. Elena Kaliska in K1 women and Michal Martikan in C1 men are just two of the exceptional paddlers and multiple Olympic medallists from this area.
Generally regarded as the most successful sport in Slovakia, canoe slalom consequently enjoys a high level of financial and organisational support to maintain its outstanding track record. The Ondrej Cibak whitewater slalom course located in the town centre was and still is the basis of this success. Ktk Dukla with their excellent organisers and volunteers at every race also provides ideal conditions for promoting development.
The club looks back on an impressive history of staging events for juniors and U23 athletes. They hosted the championships in 2013 and now again in 2024. Their ultimate goal is to foster the next world and Olympic champions for club and country. It may sound ambitious, but it is one they have achieved before and will no doubt reach again.
There is nothing like healthy competition and these championships here in Liptovsky Mikulas are therefore also an opportunity for all the others taking part. With no fewer than 430 athletes from 49 nations it is a record attendance for young competitors in this sport.
It is particularly encouraging that there are more athletes from Asian federations demonstrating high levels of proficiency. Having attracted these young people, the organisers have boosted the chances of worldwide coverage. Other assets at the Olympic whitewater centre include the very convenient press facilities with free wifi and good views of the action. The overall experience here gives the athletes the feeling that their sport is important and is additional motivation for the future.
Whoever hosts the next canoe slalom competitions would do well to use Liptovsky as a model also in catering for the media. The team results underline the strength of the leading nations, while the single events showcase the superb performances in every discipline. These winners are the ones to look out for at future World Cup races and even the Olympic Games. Among the highlights of these championships were the times in the U23 kayak men’s event. They were so close, just like in ski slalom, making it a thrilling competition. The man of the year in whitewater sport is only 16 years old: Ziga Lin Hocevar from Slovenia. Not only is he 2024 European champion and World Cup winner in the overall Canadian single men’s class, but now also – thanks to his fantastic performance – junior world champion.
Another sensational victory was Ting Yang taking the first gold medal for China in a whitewater event. This milestone will also mark a transition in canoe slalom from a primarily European to a global sport.
The medal standings in canoe slalom point to the upcoming nations in the future.
1. France 12
2. Czech Republic 11
3. Germany 7
4. Slovenia 6
5. Italy 4
6. Great Britain 2
7. Spain 1
8. China 1
9. Argentina 1
