Boí Taüll, 28 February 2023 – The World Championships 2023 started on Tuesday morning with the Sprint race of youth categories. A total of 104 youth athletes raced for the glory on a fast track at the base of Boí Taüll ski resort.
The first race brought golden joy to the host country when Laia Sellés Sánchez won the U18 Women category. The silver medal went to Eva Matějovičová of Czechia, and third in the finish was Melissa Bertolina of Italy.
“It’s just an incredible feeling to become the World Champion in front of my friends here in Spain! I was not expecting this because I raced with a broken finger. It is nice to start the week this way,” said Sellés Sánchez, who won three gold medals at the EYOF and now she became World Champion in the Sprint race.
Erik Canovi of Italy won the U18 Men Sprint race in a dominant style. He crossed the finish line with a comfortable gap on second Mathieu Pharisa (Switzerland) and third Griffin Briley (United States of America).
“I didn’t push to the maximum in the qualification and semifinal. I tried to save energy for the final, where I went how I planned it. It’s an amazing way to start this week,” said Canovi.
History was made in the U20 women’s category as China won the first-ever gold at the World Championships. Yuzhen Lamu won ahead of María Ordóñez Cobacho of Spain, while Thibe Deseyn took the bronze medal.
Oscar Angeloni, the coach of the Chinese team, said: “We had a plan for this race, and it went perfectly. It’s just the beginning of our work. It adds extra motivation for the next race.”
The U20 Men’s race saw a top performance by the German athlete Finn Hösch who won in start-to-finish style. Jon Kistler of Switzerland finished second ahead of Jeremy Anselmet of France.
“It’s unreal. Maybe I need to settle and realise what I’ve done. After a not-so-straight season, this victory is so sweet. Everything worked out the way I wanted, I was in front from the start in the final, and it was decided in the second part where I was the only one who could keep the pace,” said Hösch.
Results:
U20 Men HERE
U20 Women HERE
U18 Men HERE
U18 Women HERE
For the Press gallery, click HERE.
