Rio contenders show their speed in Duisburg

Olympic champion Danuta Kozák (HUN, K1W 500m) showed phenomenal form to out-pull a world class field two months ahead of the Rio showdown as the first of three 2016 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cups continued in Duisburg, Germany.

The 29-year-old Hungarian – who has been awarded every honour possible in a nation fanatical about the sport – clearly had a point to prove following a lacklustre 2015 by her impeccable standards. That she did in no uncertain terms.

After a gradual but progressive start, Kozák stamped her authority on the race at the mid-point and started to edged away from the rest with every stroke there after.

Fellow Olympic gold medallist (K1W 200m), Lisa Carrington (NZL) took silver, but despite her best efforts in the latter stages was unable to encroach on Kozák’s commanding lead.

Inna Osipenko-Rodomska (AZE) added to her medal tally with bronze following a silver behind Carrington (gold) in the K1 W 200m on Saturday.

A new burst of challengers emerged in the K1M 200m with Manfredi Rizza (ITA) taking control of the race shooting his boat to the line to take his first world cup gold.

France’s Maxime Beaumont (silver) and Britain’s Liam Heath (bonze) rounded out the podium in a fast race that saw the top seven all go under the 35-second mark.

Ivan Shtyl (RUS) started the season well winning the C1M 200m, the talented Russian will be aiming to upgrade his Olympic bronze from London later in the year.

Ukraine’s Dmytro Ianchuk and Taras Mishchuk pulled to victory in the C2M 1000m; their teammates, Oleh Kukharyk (K1M 500m) and the K4W 500m crew also won gold.

The Australian quartet of Kenny Wallace, Riley Fitzsimmons, Jabob Clear, Jordan Wood made a late surge to win the K4M 1000m and showed their intentions of defending Olympic gold later in the season.

Moldavia’s Serghei Tarnovschi rounded out the podium proceedings by securing gold in the C1M 500m.

Bulgaria had a successful afternoon’s racing with two gold (K4 W 200m and C4M 200m) and one silver in the C2W 500m when Nadzeya Makarchanka and Alena Nazdrova were just beaten to the line by their Russian counterparts Irina Andreeva and Olesia Romasenko.

Lithuania won the remaining battle of quartets in an explosive K4M 200m when the team of Alturas Seja, Aurimas Lankas, Edvinas Ramanauskas, Ignas Navakiskas covered the distance in an astonishing 29.859.

Tabea Medert (GER, K1W) Fernando Pimenta (POR, K1M) and Serghei Tarnovschi (MDA, C1M) won over the 5000m distance as the last three races of the six days of competition closed in Duisburg.

For more information contact:

For any other questions or queries, please contact ICF Media & Public Relations Manager at richard.pettit@canoeicf.com

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only