They didn't stand a chance.The whirlpools were too unpredictable, the force of the water too strong, and the sweeping waters too turbulent. The first acquaintance of the Indian national canoe slalom team with the Augsburg Eiskanal was a rough one—and a short one.They had arrived a week late, making their first paddle strokes in the Lech their qualification runs for the canoe slalom world championships. Although unfamiliar with the course, they were supposed to make it to the semifinals with the best 30 or 40 in their disciplines. This is already a difficult undertaking, but it is absolutely impossible if you have never raced on the Eiskanal with its very special pitfalls. And so, the Indian team found themselves not in the first third but the last tenth of the result list. Nevertheless, they were beaming because even they could not escape the unique flair of the "Ice Canal."
The already memorable 2022 World Championship inspired athletes, spectators, and officials at the end of July 2022, for it was not only a sporting showdown. The spirit of the Olympic Games, which took place here 50 years ago, could be keenly felt: a sense of camaraderie and a celebration of sport in which all were pushed to do their best.
