Close, but no medal for Swiss women canoeists
Switzerland's women's canoeing team has narrowly missed out on a medal at the Wild Water world championships in Valsesia, Italy.
The team made up of Sabine Eichenberger, Christine Schweizer and Kristin Amstutz finished fourth in Saturday’s race behind France, Germany and the Czech Republic. The Swiss were however handicapped, as Amstutz gave birth to a baby boy just six weeks ago and has missed out on training sessions.
The men’s team was less successful than their female counterparts. Peter Lüthi, Pascal Lucker and Matthias Stoop finished sixth, well off the pace set by the Czech winners.
Second fourth placing
Eichenberger, the 34-year-old former European bronze medallist from canton Aargau, had already finished Friday’s 4,200-metre K1 event in fourth place with less than six seconds separating her from third-placed Austrian Uschi Profanter.
Michala Strnadova of the Czech Republic took gold ahead of France’s Nathalie Leclerc.
Friday’s result saw Eichenberger come close to a medal at the worlds for the second time in two years. At the 2000 world championships in Treignac, France she also had to settle for fourth place.
On Sunday the Swiss paddler will have another chance at a medal, when she takes part in the 650-metre sprint race.
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