Balint Kopasz talked the talk in the lead-up to the men’s K1 1000 men’s Olympic final, and on Tuesday he not only walked the walk, he also trampled over the Olympic dreams of a world class field who were left floundering in his wake.

The 24-year-old reigning world champion was crazy brave from the start, flying out of the blocks to jostle with Portugal’s renowned front runner Fernando Pimenta for the lead.

The rest of the field were happy to sit back and wait for the heartburn to come. Experienced campaigners like Czech Josef Dostal doubted the two leaders could maintain the pace for 1000 metres. By the time it became obvious that they could, it was too late.

Kopasz wore down Pimenta, who battled gallantly to the finish line. His 21-year-old Hungarian teammate, Adam Varga, widely tipped to challenge for gold, had to settle for silver, while the field’s other young gun, 22-year-old German Jacob Schopf, fought on valiantly for fourth.

“It’s a huge feeling that I could beat the best champions and Olympians in this race,” Kopasz said.

“It was a very hard and long race, but I am in good form and this was the most important for me. I was mentally and physically perfect, I am in perfect shape, and in the last 200 metres I was able to go with my maximum speed.”

Gold in the men’s K1 1000 has been a long time coming for the Hungarians. The last one came back in 1968, the last minor medal in 1976. The drought was ended in style on Tuesday, Hungary becoming the first nation to win gold and silver in a single Olympic canoe sprint event.

 

Canoe Sprint
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