Lithuanian canoeists reach world championship finals

The World Canoe and Kayak Championships in Poznan, Poland, has seen strong performances from Lithuanian athletes, with two crews successfully advancing to the finals. The event, which features 655 participants from 77 nations, is also a crucial qualifier for Olympic ranking points.

The Lithuanian men's quadruple kayak team, consisting of Simonas Maldonis, Viktoras Čaplinskij, Ignas Navakauskas, and Artūras Seja, secured their place in the final. After finishing second in their qualifying heat for the 500m race, they went on to win their semifinal, positioning themselves among the top nine crews globally.

"We did the hardest work and made it to the final. Many thanks to Simonas, who is rowing at the front of the kayak, for managing his energy so well during the race and setting a great pace, allowing us to achieve a very good result and overtake very strong teams," said Ignas Navakauskas after their semifinal victory.

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We did the hardest work and made it to the final. Many thanks to Simonas, who is rowing at the front of the kayak, for managing his energy so well during the race and setting a great pace, allowing us to achieve a very good result and overtake very strong teams.

Artūras Seja also earned a spot in the final for the men's single kayak 200m event. He won his qualifying heat and secured second place in his semifinal, advancing among the fastest three competitors. Meanwhile, the men's double kayak team of S. Maldonis and Andrejus Olijnikas finished fifth in their 500m race, qualifying for the semifinal.

The men's double canoe team, Henrikas Žustautas and Vadimas Korobovas, placed third in their 500m qualifying heat, advancing to the semifinal. "We performed quite well, apart from a not-so-successful start. But the canoe's glide, especially in the middle of the distance, was very good," said Korobovas, expressing high hopes for the semifinal and their pursuit of Olympic qualification points.

Additionally, the Lithuanian men's quadruple canoe team, featuring Danielius and Dovydas Gauriai, Lukas Kybartas, and Adas Stefanovičius, qualified for the semifinal after finishing sixth in their 500m race. The debutants expressed excitement about competing against the world's best and experiencing the atmosphere of the championship.

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We performed quite well, apart from a not-so-successful start. But the canoe's glide, especially in the middle of the distance, was very good.