Ponomarenko Janić and Osterman win bronze at flat water worlds

Racice, 26 August - Slovenian Špela Ponomarenko Janić and Anja Osterman won bronze in K2 500-metre race at the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Račice, the Czech Republic, on Saturday. Caitlin Ryan and Lisa Carrington from New Zealand won gold, and Tina Dietze and Franziska Weber from Germany crossed the finish line second.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Slovenian flatwater kayaker Špela Ponomarenko Janić.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA
File photo

"We knew we were able of producing a good result. But the last 100 metres were exceptionally hard today... Luckily, the last buoy came quickly and the great third place with it," said Ponomarenko, who will also compete in K1 200-metre race in the afternoon.

Although tired, she said she would do everything to get into the finals in the singles competition, which will be held tomorrow.

Osterman was also happy with bronze: "It is incredible, we're winning medals one after another. I think I could get used to it, it's an incredible feeling."

She also acknowledged that the last part of the race was tough, as they "didn't work as one, but we made it to the finish line". "Well, luckily things turned out okay. It's really great," she added.

Ponomarenko Janić and Osterman already won silver in the K2 500-metre race at the Canoe Sprint European Championships in Plodiv, Bulgaria, last month.

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© STA, 2017