A great international line up of paddlers contested the first heat session of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) canoe/ kayak flatwater competition on Thursday morning, racing for a place in the finals.

The winners of each heat at the Sydney International Regatta Centre progressed straight through to the finals, while places two- seven were left to compete in the semi-finals for their chance to progress.

Hungary put in a good performance in the heats dominating with four 1st place positions, out of nine heats. Australia and the USA were also well represented in gaining direct progression through to two finals each.

Competitors were blessed with good conditions out on the water, and it showed as Zomilla Hegyi of Hungary, winner of the women’s K1 500m heat gained a time of 2.01mins, a time that beats most early Olympic gold medal records until the Moscow Olympics.

Australia’s Bernadette Wallace won the other heat, gaining direct progression to the final.

In the men’s K1 500m heats Taran Stucchio and Patrick Dolan of the United States guaranteed a place in the final, alongside Adam Karakas of Hungary.

Meanwhile, in the K2 500m events Papp and Szalay of Hungary, and Daniels and Hastings from Great Britain secured positions in the final.

In women’s K2 500m heats Csipes and Hegyi of Hungary and the Australian team of Wallace and Belcher secured a pass to compete for a medal in the final.

Larissa Di Mauro
AYOF