Collecting medals is something Martin Fuksa has become accustomed to during his glittering Canoe Sprint career.
The Czech’s medal cabinet is packed with 13 from the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, 16 from the ECA Canoe Sprint European Championships and three from the European Games as well as many others from the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cups.
But a special place had been reserved for a medal that he had long desired.
After finishing fifth in the men’s canoe single 1000m at both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, Fuksa emerged victorious at the Olympic Games as his persistence paid off.
“Finally, finally I have an Olympic medal,” said Fuksa.
“I have so many medals from World Championships and European Championships but this is my first Olympic medal and it’s gold so I am really happy.
“Thank to my team, my family and all the fans in the Czech Republic.
“This means so much to me.”
Fuksa had long been the bridesmaid, never the bride in the men’s C1 1000m, picking up silver medals at the 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2021 World Championships.
He was coming up short against the likes of Germany’s Sebastian Brendel and Brazil’s Isaquias Guimaraes Queiroz.
But Fuksa has refused to give up on his dream and is now being rewarded for all his hard work as he rises to the top of the podium.
Fuksa was crowned world champion last year before capturing the Olympic crown with a brilliant display in Paris.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Fuksa.
“It was meant to be that I was meant to win in Paris 2024.
“You must go step by step, silver and now I am the gold medallist so we will see what happens in the future.
“I am really happy right now.
“I am training with my family in my small home town training with my father, grandfather and my brother.
“I have really enjoyed this journey to the Olympics.
“This medal is not just mine but all my Fuksa so I’m thankful to my team and everybody in Czechia.”
It looked set to be a thrilling men’s C1 1000m final with Fuksa up against Brazilian defending champion Queiroz, Moldova’s Serghei Tarnovschi, Individual Neutral Athlete Zazhar Petrov, Italy’s Carlo Tacchini, Poland’s Wiktor Glazunow, Hungary’s Balazs Adolf and Germany’s Brendel.
But there was no stopping Fuksa who quickly hit the front before powering to victory in an Olympic best time of 3:43.16 as Queiroz came back to claim silver and Tarnovschi took bronze.
“I had a very good heat, very good semi-final and a very good final,” said Fuksa.
“I can see it was my race.
“I felt very good, the conditions were very good so everything was for me so I am really happy and I really enjoying the last 100m.
“I said to myself ‘Oh shit, I am Olympic champions.
“It is crazy.
“When someone is finishing strong I must finish strong too so I was scared but I had more power for the finish line so everything was how I trained.”
After winning Olympic gold, Fuksa could be forgiven for taking a long holiday but his next focus is on defending his world title later this month.
“My plan is to take two days off, enjoy the gold medal but then we have the World Championships in Uzbekistan so see you there,” said Fuksa.
