Gold rush on the European Championship: Schopf and Lemke win the kayak-two races!

Gold rush on the European Championship: Schopf and Lemke win the kayak-two races!

In the European canoe racing and Para-Canu European Championships in Račice, the Czech Republic, Jacob Schopf and Max Lemke have today [[22. June 2025]] (https://www.rbb24.de/sport/Bebtrag/2025/06/kajak-em-zweier-jacob-schopf-max-lemke-potsdam.html) won the first gold medal for the German team in the Kajak-Zweier over 500 meters. In an exciting race, they prevailed against a strong Czech team and achieved a remarkable victory. Italy took third place.

Schopf and Lemkes Triumph at the same time represents reparation after they only reached fourth place the day before in the kayak fourth. In the women's competition, Paulina Paszek and Pauline Jagsch secured the silver medal in the Kajak-Zweier, but had to surrender to the Polish competitors. The Hungarian canoeists completed the podium with a third place.

further medals and placements

The German team enjoyed further successes during the European Championship. The women's kayak fourth, consisting of Paszek, Jagsch, Hannah Spielhagen and Katharina Diederichs, won the bronze medal after a strong final sprint, while victory went to the Hungarian team, followed by Spain in second place.

In the Canadier-Einer over 500 meters, Conrad Scheibner, the ex-world champion, secured seventh place; Czech athlete Martin Fiksa won this race. The men's kayak fourth, with Max Rendschmidt, Jacob Schopf, Max Lemke and Anton Winkelmann, ended the race on Saturday in fourth place at the same time as Spain. Her winning streak, which started in 2023, found an abrupt end.

outlook on the World Championships

national coach Arndt Hanisch expressed the desire for better results on the upcoming World Cup preparation, which will take place in Milan from August 20th to 24th. The World Championships are the highlight of the season, especially after the strong performance that the German athletes showed at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

The European Championship in Račice, which took place from June 19 to 22, served as an important intermediate station for the German racing canoeists. With a variety of medals, including two gold medals for the para-canoeists, the German team shows a promising form and increasing motivation for the upcoming challenges [[Deutschlandfunk]] (https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/schopf-und-lemke-Gehnen-erste-GoldMedaille-fuer-German-Team-100.html) and [[Olympics]] (https://www.olympics.com/de/news/kanu-rennsport-em-2025-Vorschau-zeitplan-deutsche-Vierer).