KRAKOW, August 19, 2024 - Less than a week after the end of the Paris Olympics, Krakow, Poland, became the canoe slalom capital, welcoming some of the best athletes in Europe to the famous Kolna artificial whitewater course from August 15 to 18. For the sixth time, the Polish Canoe Federation hosted the European Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom Championships, which offers an opportunity for the future stars of the sport.

At these championships, the future looked bright, particularly because of the number of starters.

The environment created by the Kolna Olympic Centre, with its hotel, restaurant, swimming pool, gymnastic hall and all other facilities for training, medical treatment for high level sport, leads the Polish sportsmen to the top in canoeing.

This venue also provides the best opportunities for sport journalists television and spectators.

The 80m-long tent at the start helps under any conditions be it hot, windy or even cold in winter times.

The favourite to win both the canoe and kayak events in his category was Slovenian teenage sensation Ziga Lin Hocevar. He would win the canoe single class before finishing second in the kayak single class behind French boy Martin Cornu.

Hocevar’s sister Eva Alina Hocevar won the first place in the U23 women’s kayak single.

France topped the medal table, with Czech in second place and Great Britain in third place. Slovenia was fourth.