Poland's Marcin Pochwala and Aleksandra Stach surprised even themselves by winning the C2 mixed world title in Rio ©ICF

Poland's Marcin Pochwala and Aleksandra Stach, winners of a solitary bronze medal during the Canoe Slalom World Cup season, became the C2 mixed world champions in Rio de Janeiro.

In other highlights at the International Canoe Federation's Canoe Slalom World Championships on the Rio 2016 Olympic course, Germany's Ricarda Funk qualified fastest for tomorrow's K1 women's final as Rio 2016 gold medallist Maialen Chouraut of Spain made a shock exit after missing a gate and incurring a 50-second penalty.

There was a shock too in the men's C1 semi-finals as Britain's two-time world champion David Florence failed to progress, with Slovenia's defending champion Benjamin Savsek  recording the quickest time.

Pochwala, a four-time Olympian in C2, is Stach's C1 coach, and the pair have been paddling together for one year.

Their best result this year was a third on their home course in Krakow.

"I feel very good, I think it's a dream," Pochwala said.

"This is my first time as a world champion.

"We have been together for about one year, but we don't have professional training.

"We don't paddle together every day.

Ricarda Funk of Germany en-route to the fastest time in the women's K1 semi-finals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Rio ©Getty Images
Ricarda Funk of Germany en-route to the fastest time in the women's K1 semi-finals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Rio ©Getty Images

"We thought we could maybe win a medal this week.

"That would have been a good result for us."

Stach added: "He is my coach in C1, so in C2 mixed we maybe train together one time a month."

Pochwala and Stach finished in 104.48 seconds, which included a two-second penalty.

The French pair of Yves Prigent and Margaux Henry, second overall in the World Cup series this year, posted a clean run of 106.84 to take the silver.

Czechs Veronika Vojtova and Jan Masek finished third in 108.25.

Fellow Czechs Tereza Fiserova and Jakub Jane, winner of the World Cup series, picked up two gate touches and finished fourth.

Funk produced her quickest qualifying time in gloomy conditions.

"I'm really happy I'm in the final, and I'm happy that I had a good run because in the qualifying I was really struggling," Funk said.

"This is canoe slalom. 

"It happens sometimes."

The German posted a time of 104.18, with Ursa Kragelj from Slovenia second on 105.45 and Rio 2016 silver medallist, Luuka Jones of New Zealand, third fastest on 105.87.

Defending champion Jessica Fox of Australia qualified sixth fastest.

Savsek broke through to win the C1 world title in Pau last year, and looked determined to hold on to the crown with a 98.13 qualifying run.

World Cup winner Alexander Slafkovsky of Slovakia was second quickest in 98.24, while another Slovenian, Luka Bozic, was third in 99.44.