The German slalom canoeists experienced an extremely disappointing World Championships a year before the Olympics in Paris.
With Ricarda Funk, Andrea Herzog and Sideris Tasiadis, all defending champions remained medalless. “The result is not what we had all hoped for and imagined. None of the entire team was able to use their individual skills here. That’s why we weren’t competitive.”said head coach Klaus Pohlen from the German Canoe Association (DKV).
The DKV had dream results at the Olympics in Tokyo with four out of four possible Olympic medals and at the home World Championships in Augsburg 2022 with five gold, one silver and three bronze.
Ricarda Funk in seventh place
Even Olympic champion Funk made a mistake. After a mistake at gate six, she was seventh in the kayak, 3.26 seconds short of victory 30 kilometers north of London. Once again, Australia’s superstar Jessica Fox won it. “My boat got lost once at the top, then I had to correct and didn’t manage to maintain the speed. The two penalty seconds were a board”said Funk.
Pohlen now wants to question the immediate preparations for the World Cup, “The women in particular dominated the season and achieved top results. But in the end we were not able to implement them here”.
Double starter Lilik achieved the best placement with fourth place in the Canadian. In the kayak she capsized at the last gate and missed the final.
Tasiadis also makes mistakes
The Olympic bronze medalist Sideris Tasiadis from Augsburg, as the defending Canadian champion, came in eighth place after two errors. As a consolation, three out of four Olympic quota places remain for Paris 2024: two in the canoe and one in the women’s kayak. Since these seats are not specific to a person, the Paris tickets will be distributed in Augsburg and Markkleeberg in the spring.
The kayak men around Olympic bronze medalist Hannes Aigner, who only came 29th, are not there. “We’re a bit shocked”said Pohlen, who now wants to focus on the new discipline of kayak cross. At the World Cup in Prague next year, three more tickets for Paris will be awarded. “We still have a chance”said Pohlen, referring to cross specialist Stefan Hengst from Hamm, who couldn’t get past 37th place in the kayak.