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Slovenia Dominates Home World Cup as Europe Claims 95% of Medals in Tacen

Slovenia Dominates Home World Cup as Europe Claims 95% of Medals in Tacen 31.5.2026
The opening event of the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup season concluded this Sunday in Tacen, Slovenia, with the host nation delivering an outstanding performance in front of its home crowd and Europe once again demonstrating its dominance on the international stage.

Across the eight medal events contested during the four-day competition, European athletes claimed 23 of the 24 medals awarded, representing an impressive 95.8% of all podium positions. The only medal leaving Europe was the silver medal won by the comeback Australia's Jessica Fox in the Women's Kayak event.

Slovenia topped the overall medal table with seven medals, including four golds, two silvers and one bronze, delighting local fans at the venue that hosted the 2024 European Canoe Slalom Championships.

The star of the weekend was undoubtedly Žiga Lin Hočevar. The Slovenian paddler continued his remarkable rise by securing victory in both Men's Canoe and Men's Kayak Cross, confirming his status as one of the world's leading canoe slalom athletes. Having already become European Champion on the same Tacen course in 2024, Hočevar once again proved unbeatable on home water.

Another major contributor to Slovenia's success was Eva Alina Hočevar. The Slovenian athlete captured gold in Women's Kayak and silver in Women's Canoe, becoming one of the standout performers of the entire World Cup.

The Men's Kayak competition produced one of the most competitive finals of the weekend, with Italy's Xabier Ferrazzi taking victory ahead of Poland's Michal Pasiut and Czechia's Jakub Krejci. In Women's Kayak, Eva Alina Hočevar narrowly defeated Olympic champion Jessica Fox by just 0.13 seconds, while Spain's Maialen Chourraut completed the podium.

In Men's Canoe, Hočevar led a strong Slovenian performance ahead of Czech paddler Vaclav Chaloupka and fellow Slovenian Luka Božič. The Women's Canoe title went to Czechia's Tereza Kneblova, ahead of Eva Alina Hočevar and Switzerland's Alena Marx.

The Kayak Cross events once again delivered spectacular racing. Žiga Lin Hočevar secured his second gold medal of the weekend in the men's competition, ahead of France's Joris Hello and Great Britain's Joseph Clarke. In the women's event, Switzerland's Alena Marx took victory ahead of Ukraine's Viktoriia Us and France's Angèle Hug.

The Individual Kayak Cross Time Trials also produced European success. Great Britain's Sam Leaver won the men's title ahead of France's Mathurin Madore and Czechia's Jakub Krejci, while France dominated the women's event through Camille Prigent and Angèle Hug, with Great Britain's Kimberley Woods securing bronze.

With seven medals and four World Cup victories, Slovenia emerged as the undisputed leader of the opening World Cup weekend. France and Czechia followed as the next most successful nations with four medals each, while Switzerland collected two medals including the Women's Kayak Cross title.

Medal Table

Nation

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Slovenia 4 2 1 7
Czechia 1 1 2 4
France 1 1 2 4
Switzerland 1 0 1 2
Great Britain 1 0 2 3
Italy 1 0 0 1
Poland 0 1 1 2
Spain 0 0 2 2
Ukraine 0 1 0 1
Australia 0 1 0 1

The 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup now moves on to its next stage in Prague, while European athletes will continue building momentum towards the 2026 European Canoe Slalom Championships, scheduled to take place in Ivrea, Italy, from 24 to 26 September.
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