Experienced performers were pushed hard as competition for medals continues to intensify in Paracanoe at the 2013 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg.

Austrian, Mendy Swoboda successfully defended his world title in a competitive K1 Men 200m TA final. The 23-year-old got off to a quick start but was pushed hard by newcomers, Victor Potanin (RUS) and Pier Alberto Buccoliero (ITA) who finished second and third respectively.

Talking after the race Swoboda said, “I feel exhausted from the race, but I feel happy for Paracanoe sport because the field comes closer and closer together. "

It has been a difficult season for the disciplines front-runner who suffered illness over the winter and was unable to return to a full training regime until late spring.

Despite this he remains the one to beat; but the gap is getting smaller, or as Swoboda puts it, ”more exciting.”

In the K1 Men 200m LTA, Brazilian, Caio Ribeiro De Carvalho showed strength and focus to win his nations first Gold of the Championships.  He out sprinted former champion, and Tahiti’s sole representative in Duisburg, Patrick Viriamu.

Bronze went to Tomasz Mazdzierski (POL).

“I tried to stay focused the whole time and not to get lost because of the pressure”, said Ribeiro De Carvalho.

Underlining the continual increase in the caliber of Paracanoe athletes, he continued, “Some countries arrived here with more than what I expected.”

However, it is clear the 27-year-old is not yet feeling the expected advantages of host-nation support before the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“Compared to other first-world countries we still struggle a lot. You always notice changes in the city, but the athletes are always forgotten.”

Canada’s Christine Gauthier became a multiple World Champion despite a bad start in the K1 Women 200m LTA.

The veteran performer eased out Anne Dickens (GBR) and Cindy Moreau (FRA) who finished second and third, respectively.

“I feel excellent. It was a really, really hard race. This one means the world to me, better than the other ones before.”

“I've made some mistakes and I still have some work to do. That's a positive; I want to keep on working at it.”

Medal Winners 

K1 Men 200m TA

1. Mendy Swoboda (AUT)
2. Victor Potanin (RUS)
3. Pier Alberto Buccoliero (ITA)

V1 Men 200m LTA

1. Caio Ribeiro De Carvalho (BRA)
2. Patrick Viriamu (TAH)
3. Tomasz Mazdzierski (POL)

K1 Women 200m LTA

1. Christine Gauthier (CAN)
2. Anne Dicken (GBR)
3. Cindy Moreau (FRA)