At the Parakanu-EM as part of the European Championships, Lillemor Köper won gold in class VL1 ahead of her teammate Esther Bode. Bronze in class VL2 went to Katharina Bauernschmidt.
In the starting class of the most physically handicapped athletes, Lillemor Köper secured the gold medal over 200m. Her teammate Esther Bode took silver. Bronze went to Karolina Bronowicz from Poland. There were only three athletes in total.
Farmer Schmidt wins bronze
In the VL2 class over 200m, the German Katharina Bauernschmidt won bronze on the regatta course in Oberschleißheim. Gold went to Britain’s Emma Wiggs, who had a clear lead shortly after the start and brought it to the finish with ease. Her compatriot Jeanette Chippington won silver.
Anja Adler is fourth
In the race before, another German just missed out on bronze. Anja Adler was fourth in the VL3 final. Gold and silver were also won in this race by the British women, who were so strongly represented in the paracanoe. Charlotte Henshwa won the European title, second place went to Hope Gordon. The Ukrainian Natalia Lahutenko was happy about bronze.
Anas Al Khalifa’s first European Championship start
In the men’s VL2 class, Anas Al Khalifa started for Germany. He finished eighth in the 200m final. Gold went to Hungary’s Tamas Juhasz.
In 2015, Al Khalifa came to Germany as a refugee. Three years later, the native Syrian had an accident at work and has been paraplegic ever since. The 29-year-old got to know a canoe trainer and that’s how he came to parasport. Al Khalifa took part in the Tokyo Paralympics as part of the refugee team. He was now able to start for Germany at the European Championships in Munich.