Canoe Slalom World Cup: Joe Clarke wins K1 silver in Spain
- Published
Joe Clarke won Olympic gold in the K1 at the 2016 Games in Rio and is reigning world champion in extreme K1
Britain's Joe Clarke claimed a fourth Canoe Slalom World Cup medal of the season after finishing second in the men's K1 final in La Seu, Spain.
Clarke, 27, was 1.08 seconds behind Slovenia's Peter Kauzer, with the Czech Republic's Vit Prindis in third.
It was a second K1 silver in four World Cup events this season - with kayak cross gold and bronze too - for Clarke.
Britain's Laura Sugar won gold and Jonny Young silver on the final day of the Para-canoe World Cup in Paris.
Reigning Paralympic champion Sugar, 32, claimed the KL3 title at the Para-canoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany, the previous week and followed that up with the World Cup title in Paris on Friday.
"That was a nice way to end the season," said Sugar, who is now focused on adding another Paralympic title at the 2024 Games in Paris. "This makes next year a bit more real. I need to try and qualify to get on that plane, but it definitely fuels the thirst for the Games."
Young, 39, was just 0.13 seconds off gold in the men's KL3, adding to the silver he won at the Para-canoe World Championships in Germany.
Next up for three-time world champion Clarke is the Canoe Slalom World Championships at London's Lee Valley, from 19-24 September, which will be available to watch on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.
The Stafford canoeist led the field after a strong early run, but a touch on gate nine proved costly as Kauzer edged him out with a faultless run.
Despite missing out on a second World Cup gold of the season, Clarke remains positive after adding a fourth World Cup medal of the campaign to K1 bronze at June's European Games in Poland.
"Five medals this season, that sounds good doesn't it?" said Clarke, as he looked ahead to a home World Championships, which double as an Olympic selection event.
"I'm really happy with that result. I had to have two runs yesterday - I started well but it all unravelled a bit at the bottom of the course - but it's good to replicate that 'one-run-to-perform' pressure.
"I knew where I could make a couple of adjustments and pick up some time. It's just a shame about the cheap touch."