Gold and silver at the Canoe European Championships in Bratislava

Gold and silver for the German team at the Canoe European Championships in Bratislava: Germany’s canoeists are on a winning streak at this year’s world championships in Slovakia. On the first finals day of the Canoe Slalom European Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, the German Canoe Federation (DKV) team won gold and silver.

The four team events yielded one European Championship gold and one silver medal for Germany’s canoe slalom teams. Jasmin Schornberg from Hamm, Melanie Pfeife from Augsburg, and Jennifer Bongardt from Cologne claimed the title in the women’s kayak team event. The three athletes beat teams from Poland and Slovakia. The men also had reason to celebrate in canoe slalom: The German team, featuring Olympic champion Alexander Grimm and Hannes Aigner, both from Augsburg, and Sebastian Schubert from Hamm, also won the silver medal. Poland took gold, while Slovenia won bronze.

Germany’s men narrowly missed the podium in the C1 event, finishing fourth. Sideris Tasiadis from Augsburg, Jan Benzien, and Franz Anton from Leipzig were beaten by the competition, with Slovakia winning gold. Germany also finished fourth in the C2 event, with the teams of David Schröder/Frank Henze (Leipzig), Robert Behling/Thomas Becker (Schkopau), and Kai and Kevin Müller from Magdeburg. The Czech Republic became European champions.

Germany’s athletes have performed well so far at the Canoe European Championships in Bratislava and there is plenty to be pleased about. The organizers put together a thoroughly successful and well-planned event. Bratislava has proved to be an excellent host for the 2010 Canoe World Championships.