Five days of enthralling Canoe Sprint competition ended in the most dramatic of fashion – and created history in the process.

With fans filling the large grandstand and the sun beating down on the Olympic course in Vaires-sur-Marne, the scene was set for a fantastic finish to Paris 2024 as paddlers lined up for the women’s canoe single 200m final.

It was expected to be close but perhaps not as tight as it turned out to be with just a hair’s breadth separating the top two.

As Katie Vincent of Canada and Nevin Harrison of the United States lunged for the line it was hard to see who had crossed first as it went to a photo finish.

A world’s best time of 44.12 flashed on the screen as Vincent triumphed by just 0.01 against defending champion Harrison.

“It was a crazy couple of minutes just waiting there (for the result),” said Vincent.

“I was just excited as I knew I had a good race and I was happy with myself that I went out there and gave it all.

“To see your name come up first is pretty incredible.

“When my name popped up, I looked up and I could see my family and all the Canadians celebrating so that was really special as well.”

It was an historic moment for Canada, with Vincent becoming the first female paddler from her country to win an Olympic gold.

Vincent is also the first Olympic champion in canoeing since Adam van Koeverden triumphed at Athens 2004.

The 28-year-old, the 2021 world champion in the women’s C1 200m, has now achieved three Olympic medals with gold going with her women’s double 500m bronzes from Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

“After getting another bronze on Friday, I thought maybe it is time to change it up and try something new to get maybe a silver or gold,” said Vincent.

“I was just really motivated coming into the final and just try to do my best.

“I have just been able to dial in where my weakness are over the last couple of years and just focus on that, try to execute that better and better in the race and that’s something I have improved on.

“It’s nice to see it all come together.”

History was also made when Cuba’s Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys crossed in third – just 0.24 behind Vincent.

The Cuban’s bronze means that it is the first all-Pan American podium in Olympic canoeing history.

It comes at an exciting time for the sport with the Olympic Games returning to Pan America in four years’ time with Los Angeles playing host in 2028.

“That’s pretty cool,” said Vincent.

“Canoeing is a global sport.

“On the podium we have Pan America, Europe and Asia represented all the time so I think it’s great to see how women’s canoe has grown globally and see that women around the world are doing this and doing this well – and the level just keeps going up.”