Slovenia and Australia win gold at kayak world championships in Oklahoma City
Slovenia’s men’s team and Australia’s women’s team claimed gold medals during the second day of the kayak world championships in Oklahoma City, with over 300 athletes competing in the six-day event.
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The second day of the kayak world championships in Oklahoma City saw Slovenia’s men’s team and Australia’s women’s team win gold medals in the team kayak events.
More than 300 athletes are competing in the six-day event to become world champions in Canoe Slalom, Kayak Slalom and Kayak Cross.
In the men’s team kayak event, Slovenia secured the gold medal, with one of the youngest team members being just 19 years old and one of his partners 42 years old.
In the women’s team kayak event, Australia claimed the top spot. The team included Jess Fox, a three-time Olympic champion well-known in Australia, and her sister, Noémie Fox.
“I’ve raced with these girls for many, many years, and we’ve got a really strong trust in each other,” Jess Fox said. “We just wanted to come out today and enjoy it, give it our best, and make each other proud. I think we really did a good job. When we crossed the finish line, we were just happy and wanted to hug each other because we did a really good job. We’re really proud of ourselves.”
>> Video Below: Athletes from around the world praise Oklahoma City as Canoe Slalom World Championships begin
This event marks the beginning of the qualifying series for the Olympics, with more competitions ahead before athletes can secure their spots.
Wednesday’s competition begins at 10 a.m., and athletes are embracing Oklahoma culture. Australia’s women’s team even purchased cowboy boots from a local store, saying they are “rocking them for the vibes.”