2018 Eva Alina Hocevar - Slovenia

EVA ALINA HOČEVAR (Slovenia) – Nominee for 2018 Junior of the Year

Born: 2002, Represents: Slovenia, Sports: Canoe Slalom and Wildwater Canoeing.

Major Results:

• 2018 Junior World Championships Canoe Slalom: World Champion K1W, Vice World Champion in K1W and C1W Teams, 4th in C1W
• 2018 Junior European Championships Wildwater Canoeing: European Champion C2 Classic, 2nd in K1 Team Classic, 3rd in C1 Sprint

One of the biggest names in junior competitions in 2018 was 16-year-old Eva Alina Hočevar, a cross-discipline athlete who competes in both Slalom and Wildwater Canoeing. She is a daughter of former Slovenian canoeist, 1996 canoe slalom European Champion and three-time Olympian Simon Hočevar and granddaughter of 1972 Olympian Tone Hočevar. With canoeing in her blood she sat in the boat for the first time at the age of one when she joined her father in the boat after his competitions.

During the 2018 season, Eva produced an amazing final run in Ivrea at Junior Canoe Slalom World Championships in women’s K1 event. Her performance was so good that her closest rival crossed the finish line more than three and a half seconds behind her. She was also close to the podium in the C1W final, finishing fourth. She won two more medals in Italy, finishing second in the junior K1W team event and second in the C1W U23 team event.

Two weeks later, Eva became Junior Wildwater Canoeing European champion in women’s C2 classic race with partner Lea Novak. The same duo picked up a bronze medal in the individual sprint event, and Eva also won silver in the women’s classic K1 team event. She capped off an excellent year by winning silver medal in women’s K1 at the Junior Canoe Slalom Championships in Bratislava.

With her pedigree and recent results Eva Alina Hočevar will be undoubtedly the one to watch in the years to come.