New Zealand’s Lisa Carrington claimed a record-equalling eighth Olympic gold medal, Czechia’s Josef Dostal pulled off a stunning victory and Canada’s Katie Vincent won by the narrowest of margins on a thrilling final day of Canoe Sprint action in Paris.
Carrington’s victory in the women’s kayak single 500m was her third gold of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games having already been crowned champion in the women’s kayak four 500m and women’s kayak double 500m.
With eight gold medals, Carrington equals the record title tally of Germany’s Birgit Fischer which has stood for 20 years.
She is one of the most successful Olympic female athletes of all time, with gymnast Larisa Latynina and swimmer Katie Ledecky both winning one more gold.
It was the race New Zealand and canoeing fans from across the world were looking forward to, with Carrington expected to face a huge challenge from compatriot Aimee Fisher.
Fisher had won their last two meetings, but Carrington proved far too strong as she retained her crown.
Carrington got off to a flying start, leading by 0.18 seconds at the halfway point.
Pressure was coming from Hungary’s Tamara Csipes, but Carrington responded superbly as she motored through the water.
Carrington pulled clear, opening a gap of more than one second to finish in an Olympic best time of 1:47.36.
"It’s a lot of pressure, expectations on myself and honestly I don’t know how I did it,” said Carrington.
"You have to be good in the moment and it’s all the training, practice, working hard through tears and just asking excellence of myself and my team and it’s great to come away with a few great medals this weekend."
Csipes finished second behind Carrington at back-to-back Games, claiming her third medal of Paris 2024 after picking up women’s K2 500m silver and women’s K4 500m bronze.
Denmark’s Emma Aastrand Jorgensen got the better of Fisher to take bronze by just 0.15 after crossing in 1:49.76.
It completed a terrific comeback from Jorgensen who suffered a shock quarter-final defeat in the women’s K2 500m.
Jorgensen has now won a medal in the event for three Olympics in a row.
Dostal produced a stunning showing to capture the men’s K1 1000m crown, seeing off the Hungarian duo of Adam Varga and Balint Kopasz.
Portugal’s Fernando Pimenta set the early pace before Dostal took control after passing the halfway point.
Dostal, an Olympic silver medallist in the event at Rio 2016 and world champion in 2014, rolled back the years to come out on top in 3:24.07.
“I had dreams about this Olympic Games many times,” said Dostal.
“Having a medal for me was absolutely great but now standing here with the gold around my neck I’m not sure how I am going to stand it.
“I didn’t feel big pressure before the Olympic Games as the last weeks of the season I took fifth place, but I knew I am in good shape, I am fit but if I improve, I can do better.”
Varga came back to take silver in 3:24.76, with Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Kopasz taking bronze in 3:25.68.
A mere 0.01 was the difference between gold and silver in a gripping women’s canoe single 200m final as Vincent edged Nevin Harrison of the United States.
Looking to defend her title, Harrison got her nose in front before Vincent beat her to the finish line.
Vincent won with a world best time of 44.12 as Harrison was left to settle for silver, while Cuba’s Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys bagged bronze in 44.36.
“It was an incredible race,” said Vincent.
“I just wanted to execute and have a good race for myself, that’s all I wanted to do.
“We went into it with a positive mindset and positive vibe and just tried to crush it.
“It was a crazy couple of minutes just waiting there.
“I was excited as I knew that I had a good race, so I was happy with myself that I gave it my all.
“To see your name come up first is pretty incredible so you can’t complain with that point. It was really special.”
