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The 2026 Paddle Europe Marathon Championships came to a dramatic close in Romania, with five crew races bringing the final day of competition to an exciting end.

The spotlight was on the K2 Men Senior race, the last event of the Championships, where the fight for the European title also had a direct impact on the final medal table. Hungary’s Adrian Boros and Tamas Erdelyi delivered when it mattered most, winning the European title in 1:31:55.59 after a thrilling battle to the line.

Spain’s Joaquin Iglesias and Adrian Martin finished second, only 0.87 seconds behind the winners, while Portugal’s José Ramalho and Alfredo Faria completed the podium just 1.31 seconds from gold. Norway’s Jon Vold and Ivar Buch were also in the fight until the final stages, finishing fourth, 4.38 seconds behind the winners, with France’s Tanguy Cattelle and Pierre Vilella taking fifth place.

The Hungarian victory was decisive not only for the race itself but also for the overall medal table. Hungary and Spain finished the Championships level on six gold medals and seven silver medals, but Hungary’s seven bronze medals, compared with Spain’s five, gave them first place in the final ranking.

Five titles decided on the final day

The final day opened with the K2 Men Junior race, where Hungary’s David Gorbe and Domonkos Toth became European champions in 1:32:09.84. Spain took both remaining places on the podium, with Jaime Escuder and Pau Sanchez second, followed by Brais Bargados and Ivan Bargados in third.

In the C2 Women Senior race, Ukraine celebrated a one-two finish. Olena Tsyhankova and Valeriia Tereta won the title in 1:15:40.09, ahead of teammates Anastasiia Dezhytska and Liudmyla Babak. Hungary’s Zsofia Kisban and Zagyvai Borka completed the podium.

Spain then took gold in the K2 Women Senior race, with Miriam Vega and Alba Esteban winning in 1:41:15.05. Hungary claimed both silver and bronze, through Panna Sinko and Panna Csepe in second place and Janka Reisz and Zsofia Tokai in third.

Poland added another European title in the C2 Men Senior event. Mateusz Borgiel and Mateusz Zuchora won in 1:23:26.78, ahead of Portugal’s Rui Lacerda and Ricardo Coelho, who finished only 6.34 seconds behind. Spain’s Jaime Duro and Manuel Garrido took bronze.

The Championships then closed with the K2 Men Senior final, where Hungary’s Boros and Erdelyi produced one of the most important victories of the event, securing both the European title and the top position in the final medal table for Hungary.

2026 European Champions

Short Race Finals

• C1 Men Junior: Gabriel Fernandes, Portugal
• C1 Women Junior: Mariia Levkovska, Ukraine
• K1 Women Junior: Karen Andersen, Denmark
• K1 Men Junior: William Roeser, Great Britain
• C1 Women Senior: Daniela Cociu, Republic of Moldova
• C1 Men Senior: Jaime Duro, Spain
• K1 Women Senior: Anna Sletsjøe, Norway
• K1 Men Senior: Mads Pedersen, Denmark

Long Distance and Crew Events

• K1 Women Junior: Dianora De BIlio, Great Britain
• C1 Men Under 23: Mihaly Pluzsik, Hungary
• C1 Men Junior: Mateo Lago, Spain
• C1 Women Under 23: Zagyvai Borka, Hungary
• Paracanoe KL3 Men: Nicolas Martinez, Spain
• Paracanoe KL2 Men: Ricardo Junquera, Spain
• K1 Women Under 23: Zsofia Szerafin, Hungary
• C1 Women Junior: Sofia Postolachi, Italy
• K1 Men Under 23: Csanad Sellyei, Hungary
• K1 Men Junior: William Roeser, Great Britain
• C1 Women Senior: Liudmyla Babak, Ukraine
• K2 Women Junior: Karen Andersen and Frida Hinge, Denmark
• C1 Men Senior: Mateusz Borgiel, Poland
• K1 Women Senior: Anna Sletsjøe, Norway
• C2 Men Junior: Alvaro Pedrosa and Adrian Hermelo, Spain
• K1 Men Senior: Mads Pedersen, Denmark
• K2 Men Junior: David Gorbe and Domonkos Toth, Hungary
• C2 Women Senior: Olena Tsyhankova and Valeriia Tereta, Ukraine
• K2 Women Senior: Miriam Vega and Alba Esteban, Spain
• C2 Men Senior: Mateusz Borgiel and Mateusz Zuchora, Poland
• K2 Men Senior: Adrian Boros and Tamas Erdelyi, Hungary

Final medal table

Hungary finished at the top of the final medal table with 20 medals: six gold, seven silver and seven bronze. Spain also ended the Championships with six gold and seven silver medals, but finished second with five bronze medals and 18 medals in total.

Denmark completed the top three with four gold medals and six medals overall. Ukraine finished fourth with three gold, three silver and two bronze medals, while Great Britain closed the top five with three gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Portugal ended the Championships with 10 medals in total, one gold, five silver and four bronze, the fourth-highest total number of medals among all nations.