June 8, 2021: the Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe European Championships were held in the city of Poznan (Poland) on June 3-6, 2021. Athletes competed at such distances as 200 metres, 500 metres, 1000 metres (one-man, two-man, four-man divisions), and 5000 metres (one-man division). Representatives of Taganrog's Youth Sports School of Olympic Reserve No. 3 participated as well.

Maxim Spesivtsev (born in 1994), Vitaly Yershov (born in 1992) and Oleg Gusev (born in 1996) claimed two bronze medals in the four-man canoe - the first one in the 500 metres distance (Olympic distance) and the second one in the 1000 metres distance (non-Olympic). Yevgeny Lukantsov (born in 1991) was ranked sixth in the one-man's 200 metres distance (Olympic distance).


The 27-years old Spesivtsev has won prizes at numerous European and world championships and competitions, including 2019 ICF Canoe Sprint & Paracanoe World Championships held in Szeged, Hungary, 2016 ICF Junior & Under 23 Canoe Sprint World Championships and 2013 U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Welland, Canada.

Both Vitaly Yershov and Maxim Spesivtsev are trainees of Children's and Youth Sports School Number 3 of Olympic Reserve, coached by Merited Master of Sport of the USSR Mr. Anatoly Tishenko - head coach of the Youth Team of Russia.