Sept. 10 – Called the “Mother of Cities,” the “city of a hundred towers” and “the golden city,” Prague will temporarily become the “city of the canoe.” For five days, from tomorrow until Sunday, Prague will host once again the slalom canoeing world championship. In 2006, the last time the city hosted the world championship, it was the Italian Stefano Cipressi that dominated the K1 slalom. The sportsman remains among the most anticipated athletes, despite having changed specialties: the Bologna-native Navy graduate will represent Italy in the C1 together with Roberto Colazingari, member of the State Forestry from Subiaco, who became, a few days ago, the 2013 Italian champion in Val di Sole. Pietro Camporesi will also participate in the C1; a Bologna-native, part of the Air Force, he will also compete in the C2 with Niccolò Ferrari as the only Italian team in the Canadian two-seater. For the kayak speciality, the Italian prospect looks good: the 2012 London Olympic champion, Daniele Molmenti, did not perform exceptionally in the 2006 individual race, but won the team silver with Cipressi and Diego Paolini. For the past few years, the athlete ameliorated his performance, winning the bronze medal alongside his team in the Tacen 2010 World Championship, a team silver medal in 201, becoming European champion in 2009, 2011 and 2012, arriving in first place in the 2010 world cup and third in 2011. Particularly significant was his time at the London 2012 Olympics. His word record, 93.43, remains unbeaten. “Everything is ready for the Prague race of the year! Will our heroes bring home a medal?” Writes Molmenti on his Twitter profile, awaiting the start of the World Cup in Prague. But Italy is also betting on kayak athletes Giovanni De Gennaro (State Forestry) and Andrea Romeo (Navy), who, in Val di Sole, defeated the Olympic champion in the final of the Italian championship (2nd De Gennaro, 3rd Romeo and 4th Molmenti while 1st was Lukas Mayr). For the women’s section, all eyes are set on European vice-champion Stefanie Horn (CC Brescia) and a newcomer Clara Giai Pron, from Piedmont and member of the State Forestry.
