Italian paddlers delivered impressive performances on home waters at the opening stop of the International Canoe Federation Stand Up Paddling World Ranking Series in Comacchio.
The host nation secured six medals, including golds for Nicolo Vincenzo Ricco and Cecilia Pampinella.
The tone was set when Vincenzo Ricco and Pampinella emerged victorious from the respective men’s and women’s technical finals.
Pampinella went on to secure a second medal across the weekend, while 17-year-old Claudia Postiglione also impressed with a two-medal haul.
Spain’s Esperanza Barreras took victory in the women’s long distance, as Netherlands’ Donato Freens topped the men’s long-distance podium.
Ricco clocked 4.20.011 to take gold in the men’s technical final, finishing ahead of Spain’s Antonio Morillo in 4.25.111 and Freens in 4.31.261.
In the women’s technical final, home paddlers dominated the podium as Pampinella captured gold in 4.56.121. Barreras claimed silver in 4.58.840 while young talent Postiglione rounded off the podium in 5.10.841.
In the women’s long distance, 42-year-old Barreras produced a strong performance to win in 1.11.28.170. Italy filled the remaining podium places, with Postiglione second in 1.12.26.571 and Pampinella taking bronze in 1.12.28.081.
Freens secured gold in the men’s long distance, crossing the line in 1.04.41.381, narrowly ahead of Spain’s Antonio Morillo in 1.04.45.231, and Vincenzo Ricco in 1.04.46.990.
Next up, the ICF SUP World Ranking Series 2026 heads to Lake Faak in Villach, Austria from May 14 to 17, where athletes will continue their pursuit of crucial ranking points on the world stage.
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