Chile’s Maria Jose Mailliard was left in shock by her gold-medal success in Samarkand having been in hospital the day before with sickness.
Mailliard captured the women’s canoe single 5000m crown at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Championships in the Uzbek city.
It was a result that Mailliard did not believe was possible after being struck down with an illness for several days.
Mailliard revealed that she had considered pulling out of the race before going to hospital to receive treatment.
“It’s nice to be here,” said Mailliard after her third world title.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect this result.
“I was so sick for the last four days so I am so impressed and happy with this result and finish this year with the gold medal.
“I was so bad, to be honest.
“I didn’t want to race this and I told my coach to take me off but I had a minute to think about that and I said ‘Okay I will do my best and will finish this race’ so when I was there fighting with Annika (Loske) for the first place, I got motivation and finished the race so I am so happy.”
Mailliard crossed the finish line in 31:15.084, beating Germany’s Loske who took silver in 31:37.596, while Ukraine’s Valeriia Tereta bagged bronze in 31:53.552.
As well as winning gold, Mailliard earned silver in the women’s C1 500m, while the Chilean paddler also participated in the women’s C1 1000m, finishing fourth and the women’s C2 200m, placing seventh alongside Paula Gomez.
“I just went race by race and tried to finish this year the best I can,” said Mailliard.
It was her third world title and first in the women’s C1 5000m having clinched the women’s C1 500m and women’s C1 1000m titles in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
All three of those gold medals have come since Mailliard turned 30 at the start of 2021.
“This is my third world gold medal and I really feel good,” said the 33-year-old.
“I want to say thank you for all the people that support me, thank you to Pedro, the coach of Chile.
“He is not my coach but he was so nice with me last time and I am really thankful to him and my federation and all my sponsors. I am so happy.
“When I least expect it, it happens so it’s really good.”
All the results from today's races can be found here.
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