Angele Hug of France and Manuel Ochoa of Spain won gold in the Kayak Cross event on the final day of the International Canoe Federation World Cup in Prague, and both will now have to wait for the decision of their national federations to find out if they will be among those selected for the Paris Olympics.

On Sunday, three Kayak Cross quotas were up for grabs in both the men's and women's events. Spain, Germany and France secured the men's tickets. France, Australia and Great Britain secured the top three spots in the women's category. 

In addition to the traditional individual kayak and canoe events, Paris 2024 will see the debut of a new event in slalom canoeing: kayak cross. It is now the turn of Kayak Cross, a new event making its debut at the Games. For the first time, slalom canoeing will include an event where athletes compete against each other and not just against the clock, more than half a century after its debut at the Olympics.

With the exception of Australian Noemie Fox, who secured her ticket in Prague and will join her sister Jessica in Paris, all paddlers will have to wait for their national federations to decide whether they will be on the list for Paris 2024. Hug's victory was not without controversy as Czech paddler Tereza Kneblova crossed the finish line first before receiving a late penalty for missing a gate.

The decision saw Kneblova drop from first to fourth place and potentially out of the Olympic quota. Hug's Olympic fate is now in the hands of the French selectors. "We have to wait for the federation's decision on which boat will be the best for the Olympics. I felt really good today, it was great to have the whole team cheering us on. I was very nervous after the first few heats and I told myself to calm down," said Hug. 

Fox, on the other hand, is already looking forward to what lies ahead. "I've been dreaming about this day every day for the last eight months. I've been visualising it and I've been really motivated to come to this race and be in the best possible shape physically and mentally. I'm really proud of myself," he said.

Great Britain's Nikita Setchell finished third, earning an Olympic berth. However, if they decide to accept it, it will mean that either Kimberley Woods or Mallory Franklin will not be taking part in the event in Paris. If Great Britain decides not to accept the quota, it will be allocated to the Czech Republic.

The Spanish federation is also facing a difficult decision after Manuel Ochoa won gold in the men's kayak cross final. "I would love to go to the Olympics, but we have a strong team in Kayak Cross, so we will make a decision soon. It will be a technical decision. But whatever the decision is, it will be fair", he said. "We have another World Cup in Krakow. Maybe we will compete there," added the Spaniard. 

The surprise in Prague came from Germany's Tillmann Roeller. He won silver in his first World Cup and secured his country's quota for Paris. Germany will wait to find out who will be in Paris in 2024 until the World Championships in Krakow next weekend. The French federation also have a tough decision to make in the men's event, with Boris Neveu finishing third and earning a quota. The competition for the last place in the slalom team of the host nation has been fierce.

Results from the World Cup in Prague:

Women's Kayak Cross:

1st - Angele Hug (France)

2nd - Noemie Fox (Australia)

3rd - Nikita Setchell (Great Britain)

Men's Kayak Cross:

1st - Manuel Ochoa (Spain)

2nd - Tillmann Roeller (Germany)

3rd - Boris Neveu (France)