Host Slovakia topped the medal table at the European Canoe Slalom Championships this week, with seven overall medals, including a sweep of all four canoe-class events and a 1-2 in the men's C-1 by Alexsander Slafkovsky
and Michal Martikan (Spain's Ander Elosegi finished third to secure an Olympic berth for himself). In the women's competition, both Great Britain and Germany secured three medals, highlighted by Kimberly Woods' gold in both the C-1 and K-1 team events for the British. Overall, eight nations won at least one medal, with gold medalists also coming from Spain and the Czech Republic.
African Weightlifting Champs End
The 2016 African Weightlifting ended in Yaounde, Cameroon this weekend with Olympic qualification on the line for nations' lifters not yet qualified through the worlds or commonwealth champs, or other IWF events. In the end, Tunisia topped the men's competition, with six overall/big medals out of eight events. They, along with Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Ghana, earned the right to send one athlete to Rio. On the women's side, Nigeria secured seven overall/big medals in seven events to lead Tunisia, Cameroon, and Algeria to Olympic qualification for one athlete each.
The 2016 LEN European Aquatics Championships began in London this week, with Great Britain (in diving) and Italy (in synchronized swimming) leading the way early. In diving, the British ended with 11 medals in 13 events to outpace Russia's nine medals. Tom Daley led the way for Team Britain, with three medals - gold in the men's 10m platform and another gold and a silver in synchro events. Tania Cagnotto swept all three springboard events for the women to power Italy's six total. In synchronized swimming, Italy continued to find success, as the only nation (not Russia!) to medal in each event, finishing with nine. Russia was second again - albeit largely due to not competing in the team free event - with eight total, followed by Ukraine (7) and Spain (3) to complete the table. Russia's tally included gold by Alexandr Maltsev and Michaela Kalancha in the mixed duet, the first time to be held at these championships. Only four other nations - Italy, Spain and Ukraine - took part in the inaugural event. You have to start somewhere!