After Slovenia topped the medal table in Tacen and Czechia celebrated home success in Prague, Augsburg produced another highly competitive weekend with European athletes once again claiming the vast majority of podium positions and reinforcing the continent's dominance in international canoe slalom.
One of the stories of the season continued in Men's Kayak, where Czech paddler Jakub Krejčí secured his second K1 victory in successive World Cups. After winning on home water in Prague, Krejčí once again proved to be the athlete to beat, taking victory ahead of Italy's Giovanni De Gennaro and Xabier Ferrazzi. The result further strengthens the Czech athlete's position among the leading contenders for both the overall World Cup title and the upcoming European Championships in Ivrea.
The host nation also had plenty to celebrate. Germany's Ricarda Funk delivered one of the performances of the weekend by winning Women's Kayak in front of her home crowd. France's Camille Prigent finished second, while Poland's Klaudia Zwolinska completed an all-European podium.
The Men's Canoe competition produced one of the closest finishes of the season. Italy's Raffaello Ivaldi claimed victory by just 0.07 seconds ahead of Great Britain's Adam Burgess, while Slovakia's Matej Beňuš secured bronze. Slovenia's Žiga Lin Hočevar, winner of two gold medals in Tacen, finished seventh in another highly competitive final.
Women's Canoe once again highlighted the strength of European athletes. Spain's Nuria Vilarrubla and Czechia's Martina Satková joined the podium, while Slovakia's Sona Stanovská finished fourth. Slovenia's Eva Alina Hočevar also reached the final, continuing her impressive consistency across the opening World Cups of the season.
The Kayak Cross events provided yet more excitement. Great Britain's Joseph Clarke secured victory in the men's competition ahead of Spain's David Llorente and Belgium's Gabriel De Coster, resulting in a completely European podium.
In Women's Kayak Cross, Czechia celebrated another victory through Tereza Kneblová, who defeated American paddler Evy Leibfarth and Switzerland's Alena Marx in the final. Germany's Ricarda Funk narrowly missed a second medal of the weekend after finishing fourth.
The Individual Kayak Cross Time Trials once again produced strong European performances. Spain's Manuel Ochoa topped the men's rankings ahead of Egor Smirnov and Italy's Giovanni De Gennaro, while Germany's Ricarda Funk was fastest in the women's competition ahead of Czechia's Tereza Kneblová and American paddler Evy Leibfarth.
Three World Cups into the season, a clear pattern has emerged. Slovenia dominated the opening event in Tacen, Czechia ruled in Prague and now Germany, Italy, Great Britain and Spain have all celebrated major victories in Augsburg. The results underline the incredible depth of European canoe slalom, with different nations and athletes challenging for medals every weekend.
With Augsburg now completed, attention turns towards the second half of the World Cup season and, increasingly, towards the 2026 European Canoe Slalom Championships in Ivrea, Italy, from 24 to 26 September, where Europe's leading athletes will once again battle for continental honours.
Augsburg 2026 – Gold Medal Winners
Men's Kayak – Jakub Krejčí (CZE)
Women's Kayak – Ricarda Funk (GER)
Men's Canoe – Raffaello Ivaldi (ITA)
Women's Canoe – Jessica Fox (AUS)
Men's Kayak Cross – Joseph Clarke (GBR)
Women's Kayak Cross – Tereza Kneblová (CZE)
Kayak Cross Individual Men – Manuel Ochoa (ESP)
Kayak Cross Individual Women – Ricarda Funk (GER)
World Cup Leaders After Three Events
- Tacen: Slovenia led the medal table with 7 medals.
- Prague: Czechia topped the medal table with 5 medals and 3 golds.
- Augsburg: Victories were shared across Europe, with athletes from Czechia, Germany, Italy, Great Britain and Spain all claiming titles
Medal table
|
Nation
|
Gold
|
Silver
|
Bronze
|
Total
|
|
Czechia
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
|
Italy
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
|
Germany
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
|
Great Britain
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
|
Spain
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
|
France
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Slovakia
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
|
Poland
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
Belgium
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
|
Switzerland
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
|
United States
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
AIN
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
Australia
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
|
.
The road to Ivrea is becoming increasingly competitive, and Augsburg showed once again that Europe remains the benchmark in world canoe slalom.
18.6.2026
