An emotional Kimberley Woods became European C1 champion for the second time in her career to lay down an impressive marker in the first international race of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle.
The women’s C1 will come to the Olympic stage for the first time in Tokyo, with this the perfect time for Woods to show her credentials as a potential medallist in Japan.
The 2015 winner finished more than 2.5 seconds ahead of Tereza Fiserova from the Czech Republic and Austria’s Nadine Weratschnig, in Slovenia.
This was not the first time the 21-year-old had enjoyed success in Tacen, after she was victorious on the unpredictable river course when taking gold in the 2016 World Cup final.
Woods’ C1 title was also her second gold medal in two days, following up C1 team honours with Mallory Franklin and Eilidh Gibson at the four-day event.
“I was pretty emotional on the finish line and then had to wait for the last paddler to go down the course to see if I had won,” she said.
“It was really important for me to put a marker down and it just shows how much the C1 class has come on.
“I still feel I have a lot of time in my run, but it was just really important that I came away with a win and it will give me a lot of confidence for the races to come.
“Last time I won this event in 2015 I had a great season, so I am hoping that this year will be even better and that I can keep my form throughout the World Cup Series, U23 Worlds and building through to the World Championships in Pau at the end of the year.
“To win two golds this weekend is really exciting. This is a really unpredictable course and some of the big names weren’t in the top three or even the final.”
The meet is not yet over for Woods, who is looking to reach another final when she goes in the K1 semi-finals on Monday.
The men’s equivalent K1 saw mixed fortunes for the British competitors, with Olympic champion Joe Clarke and 2016 World Cup silver medallist Bradley Forbes-Cryans both going out in the semis.
Teenager Chris Bowers did make the final on his European debut, beating some of the world’s best in the semi-final prior to finishing 14th in the showcase event.
Sportsbeat 2017