Slovakia wins slalom medal

Slovakian Elena Kaliska has won the gold medal in the Women's K1 Slalom, Éadaoin Ní Challaráin's event.

The silver went to American Rebecca Giddens, while France claimed the bronze with Peggy Dickens.

Irish challenger Éadaoin Ní Challaráin failed to qualify for the final, finishing an agonising 11th as the top ten went through.

Just three-and-a-half seconds away from an Olympic final, Ní Challaráin was nonetheless satisfied with her performance on the white water of Athens' Helliniko centre.

“I was very pleased with my paddling,” said the 28-year-old, whose total time 116.95 ranked her eleventh of the 15 semi-finalists. “Going off first I was committed to charging at the course as best I could and setting a good time.

"Obviously, getting a clear run and missing the time penalties that I got yesterday was also a big boost but it wasn’t to be. I lost a couple of seconds at gate seven, which was probably the difference between qualifying and not.”

“It’s been an improvement on Sydney though, and another great experience. I loved the course.”

The Galway woman faced an agonising wait after her run at the 20-gate set up. But with Irena Pavelkova of the Czech Republic incurring a maximum 50-second penalty for missing a gate, Ní Challarain was suddenly 11th as Polish champion Agnieszka Stanuch, Austrian Violetta Oblinger-Peters and World Cup champion Mandy Planert of Germany all made further blunders.