Neutral Russian canoeists sweep Szeged World Cup with four golds
Russian canoeists competing under neutral status dominated the Szeged stage of the Canoe Sprint World Cup. The team secured four gold medals, making it one of their most successful away tournaments in recent years. The event also marked the beginning of the new Olympic qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Ivan Shtyl, an 18-time world champion and Olympic medallist, paired with Zakhar Petrov to win the men’s C-2 500-meter event. Their winning time was 1 minute 35.90 seconds, beating the Italian crew to silver and the Brazilian pair to bronze.
Zakhar Petrov also claimed gold in the men’s C-1 1,000-meter race, decided by a tight photo finish. Another Russian duo, Alexey Korovashkov and Matvey Arsenov, finished fifth in the men’s C-2 500-meter event. Despite competing without national flags or anthems, Shtyl and Petrov remained among the world’s top canoeists. Their performances reinforced their status as leading athletes in the sport.
The Szeged competition highlighted the strength of Russian canoeists, even under neutral status. With four gold medals, the team set a strong foundation for the 2028 Olympic qualification cycle. The results also confirmed their continued dominance in international canoe sprint events.
