Apel has won four medals at the European Championships including two silver medals in the C1 team and K1 team events at the 2019 European Championships in Pau, France and two bronze medals in the C1 event at the 2018 and 2021 events. She also achieved success in her junior career, winning a silver medal in the K1 event 2015 Junior World Championships in Foz do Iguaçu. Elena achieved her best senior world championship results of 8th (K1) and 13th (C1), at the 2019 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in La Seu d'Urgell.