The Austrian had a point to prove when she set off on her opening under-23 K1 run at Divoka Voda-Cunovo in Slovakia’s capital after being suspended by the Austrian Canoe Federation for two World Cup events.

Leitner was disqualified at the European Championships in Tacen in Slovenia for an underweight boat.

The 22-year-old responded with a sensational opening run, setting the fastest time of 1 min 31.88sec.

She was more than four seconds quicker than multiple world champion Jessica Fox of Australia in 1:36.21.

Great Britain’s Mallory Franklin finished third in 1:37.61.

"It was really fun to race, I just felt really lucky today,” Leitner said.

“On every upstream I could do it with a sweep, I didn’t plan it like that, it just happened.

"It was fun to race."

The Czech Republic's 16-year-old Antonie Galuskova was the quickest qualifier in the women’s junior K1,

Galuskova posted a time of 1:41.78, with Austria’s Antonia Oschmautz second in 1:42.59 and Germany’s Andrea Herzog third in 1:43.72.

“My run was really good, I enjoyed every second,” Galuskova said.

“Sometimes my training was bad, and I was really scared, but everything is just fine.

“This is a big experience for me.”

Slovakia’s Matus Gewissler and Juraj Skakala were fastest in the under-23 men’s C2 event in 1:41.36.

The Czech Republic’s Vit Pohanka and Denis Wendl topped the standings in the men’s junior C2 in 1:53.26.

The championships continue tomorrow when the first medals will be awarded.