Long Distance Finals Deliver Drama on Final Day in Abu Dhabi
The final Sunday of racing in Abu Dhabi delivered outstanding performances, emotional comebacks, and several surprise results across all divisions. After an intense week of racing, athletes capped off the event with memorable medal ceremonies and decisive long-distance battles.
Shrimpy Strikes Gold at Last
Shuri “Shrimpy” Araki finally secured his gold medal after missing out on the Technical World Title to Aaron Sanchez earlier in the week. This time, the Japanese powerhouse dominated the long distance, finishing over three seconds ahead of Sanchez to claim the win.
Rai Taguchi delivered yet another remarkable performance, earning bronze in 55:52.78. His result is especially impressive considering that he has not raced in Europe all season and was largely written off by some after losing his Starboard sponsorship earlier this year.
A strong comeback also came from Dutch racer Donato Freens, who finished 4th. After a quiet week in Abu Dhabi and growing concern among fans, Freens showed he is still very much in the game.
One of the biggest names on the start list, Michael Booth, surprised many by not just commentating but also racing. The Australian paddler powered into 7th place despite limited race preparation.
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Junior vs. Veteran: A 2-Second Battle
One of the most eye-catching matchups came from 13th-placed junior Kotaro Miyahira, who finished less than two seconds ahead of German veteran Normen Weber—a paddler more than twice his age. Weber’s result was widely praised as one of the standout senior performances of the day.
In contrast, Manuel Hoyuela — usually a predictable top-contender — struggled in Abu Dhabi and finished unusually far back. His performance raised questions about whether he was battling health, equipment, or simply an off-day.
Marie Carmen Rivera Completes the Triple Crown
The women’s podium was identical to the Technical Race. Marie Carmen Rivera was unstoppable and seemed to be paddling in a league of her own. The only athlete able to stay somewhat close was Duna Gordillo, who finished 3.25 seconds behind. A solid chunk further back was Alba Frey in third, with a gap of 7.22 seconds.
Right behind Alba came Rika Okuaki, and in 5th place we found Juliette Duhaime, already 21.48 seconds behind the winner. After Juliette, the time gaps became so large that it was clear the world’s elite women are paddling on a different level, and there is still a lot of catching up to do for the rest of the field that traveled to Abu Dhabi.
Juniors & Masters: Big Wins and Broken Streaks
Germany’s Peter Weidert, known as the “German Giant,” entered the race already holding two gold medals from Abu Dhabi and three from Sarasota. His bid for a second triple-gold streak was denied by Hungary’s Gábor Szabó, who took the win by more than 11 seconds.
In the Junior Women’s division, Csillag Kocsis finally achieved the victory many expected earlier in the week. Her time of 1:02:02.95 put her over three minutes ahead of Italy’s Sveva Sabato and Claudia Postiglione.
The Junior Men’s field delivered one of the tightest finishes of the day, with Tatsuma Nishikawa winning by just over a second ahead of Hungary’s Zeno Szabó, one of the youngest competitors in the entire event. The Netherlands celebrated its first medal thanks to Maximus Sijrier, who claimed bronze.
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