Joe Clarke: Briton becomes kayak cross European champion

Britain’s five-time world champion Joe Clarke added a first European title to his collection with victory in the kayak cross in Slovenia.

Clarke’s gold medal at the European Championships comes in the event which will make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024.

The 31-year-old Briton, who won gold in canoe slalom at the Rio Olympics in 2016, came through the men’s head-to-head rounds before saving his best run for the final.

Clarke tackled the challenging Tacen course with aplomb, overcoming two upstream gates flawlessly to claim his first medal of the 2024 season.

He said the victory was a great start to the season and a “big stepping stone” towards the Olympics.

“The European Championships is one I was missing from the medal cabinet so I’m really happy to get the gold medal,” said Clarke.

“The start being where it was always meant carnage was possible to kick off. It was hard to know how things were going to pan out and take the racing that was in front of you.”

His British team-mate Nikita Setchell took an impressive bronze in the women’s kayak cross final.

Setchell, 23, said: “It’s great to pull it out the bag on the day and win my first senior medal. I’ve medalled at under-23 level, but to make the step up is huge and hopefully I’m setting a standard for my season.”