A Historic Gold for Slovak Teen
Michal Martikan, 17, of Slovakia edged defending champion Lukas Pollert of the Czech Republic to win the gold in whitewater canoe slalom on the Ocoee River in Tennessee.
In the women’s kayak single slalom, Dana Chladek, of Kensington, Md., came from next-to-last in a field of 30 to surprisingly win a silver medal. Stepanka Hilgertova of the Czech Republic won gold.
Martikan’s gold was the first for Slovakia, which declared its independence from Czechoslovakia three years ago.
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MEDALISTS
Canoe-Kayak
MEN’S WHITEWATER SLALOM
Gold: Michal Martikan, Slovakia
Silver: Lukas Pollert, Czech Rep.
Bronze: Patrice Estanguet, France
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WOMEN’S KAYAK SINGLES
Gold: Stephanka Hilgertova, Czech Republic
Silver: Dana Chladek, U.S.
Bronze: Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, France
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