| A reigning world champion and a reigning Olympic gold medalist picked up wins on the final day of the ICF canoe slalom world cup in Markkleeberg, Germany, on Sunday. Local paddler Andrea Herzog finished more than four seconds ahead of the field in the women’s C1 final, while Frenchman Denis Gargaud Chanut was more than two seconds faster than the next best in the men’s C1. Herzog was the only paddler in the women’s final to post an error-free run, with the challenging course bringing most of the field unstuck. Herzog won her first world title in 2019, and heads to her first Olympic Games as a strong medal prospect. “All the people were cheering so loud, I just told myself to stay calm,” Herzog said. “Last year we had no competition so I had time to work on my mindset, and it’s working pretty well this season. I know now that I am really fast, and that I can definitely win a medal. “But Tokyo is another course, so I will have to focus one more time and then we will see who is the best.” The ultra-consistent Czech, Tereza Fiserova, finished second, 4.35 seconds behind with a two-second penalty, while Austria’s Nadine Weratschnig also picked up a penalty on her way to the bronze medal. Both Fiserova and Weratschnig will be competing in Tokyo. WOMEN’S C1
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