Canoeing and kayaking: Manon Hostens is getting ready for its European sprint final

This Friday, Manon Hostens from Périgord and Vanina Paoletti from Angers watched the women's 500m double kayak semifinal without pressure, in Racice (Czech Republic). Indeed, the only question was which three boats would join them in the final, this Sunday at 12:10 p.m. Because the top three in each of the two series contested on Thursday had already qualified: Germany, Slovakia, and the Netherlands in the first, Poland, Hungary, and France in the second.

The French team came close, clocking 1:43.942, almost two seconds behind the Hungarians but barely three hundredths of a second ahead of the Spanish team, who ultimately finished fourth. Their first goal was nevertheless achieved. The European podium could now be within reach, as the French K2 team finished third in the faster of the two series. Their time would have placed them second in the first, four tenths behind the Germans.