Due to a lack of whitewater training facilities in Ireland, Jegou is based at the course in the French city of Pau and took advantage of this during today's competition. 

He won the men's C1 contest in 100.35 secs, finishing in front of Czech Vaclav Chaloupka, who posted a time of 101.08.

Switzerland's Thomas Koechlin was third in 101.96. 

It was Ireland's first World Cup gold medal in the C1 and the country's first medal of any colour since Mike Corcoran came second in La Seu in 1993. 

Ireland has won a handful of medals in non-World Cup events, including a bronze and a silver medal for Jegou at the Under-23 and Junior World Championships. 

Eoin Rheinisch won a K1 World Cup gold for Ireland back in 2004, also in La Seu.

"I’m really over the moon," Jegou said.

"I've been pushing myself really hard now for several years, and all summer, preparing for events like this. 

"So I'm absolutely thrilled to put down a big run like this in the seniors, it means a lot."

In the women's C1, Brazil's Ana Sátila added to her gold medal from last month's World Cup event in Slovenia.

The two-time Olympian posted a time of 115.39, which included a two-second penalty, to finish more than six seconds ahead of Ukraine’s Viktoriia Us.

Tereza Kneblova of the Czech Republic was third in 122.15.

"I was really happy, it had been a hard week for me, with so many things to fix and solve," Sátila said.

"I tried to just focus on my run and do my best in this race, and I was happy because I really enjoy racing, and I really enjoyed this final, so when I finished the race and saw the time, that was a big relief."

Competition in Pau concluded with the C1 events. 

Uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic means the dates of the next ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup are unknown.