This week the WC in canoe marathon is decided.

The Swedish national team got off to an excellent start, when 23-year-old Melina Andersson won in the short-track.

She opened hot, continued to grill her opponents, then pulled away at the end.

"She did a sensational race," writes Dag Johansson, secretary general of the Swedish Canoe Association, in a press release.

The WC medal is Sweden's first in 24 years in the marathon discipline.

In 1998, Susanne Gunnarsson won two WC golds in Cape Town.

It is noteworthy that Johanna Johansson came in 14th place in Thursday's competition.