Australia’s Curtis McGrath and Great Britain’s Charlotte Henshaw looked in fine form on the opening day of Paracanoe action as they bid to do the double at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. 

McGrath, who holds a record three Paralympic gold medals in Paracanoe, got off to a flying start on Friday, topping his heat in the men’s KL2 to advance to the final. 

The Australian then backed that up by producing a Paralympic Games best time of 48.97 in the men’s VL3 to ensure he remains on track for back-to-back doubles having done the same at Tokyo 2020. 

“I was nervous this morning with a lot of excitement,” said McGrath.  

“What adds to the nerves is that we are one of the very last events of the Games.  

“The weather was a bit average yesterday and now it is nice, with a bit of headwind, so I was able to get out there and do a really good race and I am very happy with how it all came together.” 

McGrath was also delighted to see fans back at the Paralympic Games after competing in front of no spectators at Tokyo 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Among the crowd at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium were members of the Australian Army that McGrath previously served with. 

“It’s great to have them here as it’s come full circle,” said McGrath who lost both his legs in a mine blast in 2012 in Afghanistan while serving as a combat engineer for the Australian Army. 

“Some were there in Rio 2016 and they had planned to come to Tokyo but it didn’t work out, but they made the trip to Paris.” 

McGrath’s teammate Scott Martlew secured top spot in the other men’s KL2 heat, while Ukraine’s Vladyslav Yepifanov also moved through to the final with McGrath in the men’s VL3. 

There was also double delight for Henshaw, who starred in both the women’s VL3 and women’s KL2, clinching her place in the finals of both. 

“It was always going to be a difficult morning backing up the kayak with the va’a in the space of 45 minutes,” said Henshaw.  

“But we have been working on doing that in training and I am pleased to get a good run under my belt.  

“I haven’t had a hit out against the full field but good to have put down a solid performance and one that I was pretty happy with.” 

Henshaw’s chief challenge for the women’s KL2 crown looks set to come from Hungary’s Katalin Varga, who won the other heat.  

It is poised to be an all-British battle between Henshaw and Hope Gordon for the women’s VL3 title after both topped their heats. 

Great Britain enjoyed a strong day, with Emma Wiggs and Laura Sugar launching the defences of their respective women’s VL2 and women’s KL3 titles. 

Wiggs was commanding in her heat as she aims for a third successive women’s VL2 gold, while Canada’s Brianna Hennessy also qualified for the final. 

Sugar is expected to face a test from home favourite Nelia Barbosa in the final after they both came out on top in their heats. 

Hungary’s Peter Kiss is another defending champion in the field and he saw off France’s Remy Boulle in his heat in the men’s KL1. 

“It was great but a very tough race,” said Kiss.  

“It was a little bit windy. I didn’t expect this.  

“The time is not very good, but maybe in the final I can do better.  

“I think Remy Boulle will be faster in the final, so I need more rest to compete tomorrow.  

“I have a lot of confidence because my family and friends are here cheering for me, so I feel the motivation.” 

Brazil’s Luis Carlos Cardoso won the other men’s KL1 heat while fellow countrymen Fernando Rufino de Paulo and Igor Alex Tofalini look primed to go head-to-head for the men’s VL2 crown after putting in dominant displays. 

Chile’s Katherinne Wollermann and Ukraine’s Maryna Mazhula were the top performers in the women’s KL1 heats, while Spain’s Juan Antonio Valle and Australia’s Dylan Littlehales qualified for the men’s KL3 final. 

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