On August 29, 2026, Slovenian canoeist Matevž Manfreda secured ninth place in the 200-meter race at the World Championships held in Poznan, Poland. The competition, part of the sprint category on calm waters, saw several notable performances from the Slovenian team, though none reached the podium. Manfreda, competing in both singles and doubles, finished behind Italy’s Andreo Domenico Di Lbero, who won gold with a time of 1 minute and 40 seconds, while Slovenia's Anja Apollonio and Anže Pikon placed seventh in the doubles event. The event marked a mixed performance for Slovenia’s canoeists. In the morning session, Manfreda and Pikon competed in the doubles on 500 meters, securing a spot in the semifinals and advancing to the final. Their strategy proved effective, and they expressed confidence in their ability to challenge for top positions. “The conditions were tough, but clearly didn’t bother us. Others had more difficulties. We tactically executed our plan as we intended,” Pikon stated after the race. In the afternoon, Manfreda competed alone in the 200-meter race, finishing ninth. Despite his efforts, he acknowledged that the conditions did not favor him. “I’m not entirely satisfied with my performance, but I believe I could have been faster, perhaps even a second quicker,” he said. His teammate, Anja Apollonio, also faced challenges during her individual race. She started strongly but struggled toward the end, ultimately placing seventh, just 57 hundredths of a second away from bronze. Apollonio, who previously won silver at last year’s World Championships in Milan and bronze at the European Championships in Portugal, was disappointed with her result. “The conditions here were catastrophic all week. Even today, when things calmed down, I still couldn’t find my rhythm,” she admitted. Her performance, however, remained consistent enough to secure a spot in the finals, which she viewed as a positive outcome despite the setback. Meanwhile, the doubles combination of Pikon and Manfreda continued to show promise. They advanced to the final B on 500 meters, where they finished seventh. While they were slightly disappointed with their placement, they emphasized that the results were still encouraging. “We’re not completely satisfied, but we know we could have done better. Some competitors were simply too fast,” Pikon noted. Another highlight came from Mia Medved, who partnered with Apollonio in the doubles on 500 meters. Together, they claimed victory in the final B, securing valuable points in the battle for Olympic qualification. This win was particularly meaningful for Apollonio, who also competed in the 500-meter race and finished last in the final C. Despite this, she maintained optimism about the overall campaign. “I don’t want to think about how things went today. I’ve had a difficult week, but I gave everything I could,” she said. The Slovenian team concluded the World Championships with a mix of satisfaction and disappointment. While some athletes achieved personal bests and secured spots in key finals, others fell short of expectations. Nevertheless, the experience provided valuable insights and motivation for future competitions. With the Olympics approaching, the focus will shift to refining strategies and addressing the challenges faced during these high-stakes races. For now, the results serve as a foundation for continued growth and ambition in international canoeing.
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