Fiona Pennie lived up to her own expectations as she and the women's K1 team claimed Canoe Slalom World Championships gold for the first time in ten years in Spain.
Pennie, alongside Mallory Franklin and Kimberley Woods, went two steps better than their bronze last year to claim gold ahead of the Czech Republic in second and Russia in third.
In an immaculate performance, containing only one penalty touch, the British trio worked in perfect harmony to claim victory and Pennie was ecstatic that everything went to plan.
“I am really pleased,” she said. “We had to nail the plan and keep it clean and steady.
“We knew we were all capable of producing something that was world winning and we managed to do it!”
Franklin and Woods teamed up again later for the women’s C1 team alongside Sophie Ogilvie, aiming to make it a record three wins in a row in the event.
Unfortunately, they were unable to repeat the feat, finishing eighth but, speaking earlier, Woods was over the moon at the K1 success.
She said: “I didn’t think we would do it in kayak, it was more the C1 we expected to win, so it is pretty cool to start off with a gold at the championships.
“I had a bit of a touch on the second to last upstream, but I knew I could sweep hard out of the last one and sprint to the finish.
“To get that win with a touch was fortunate, but we are a strong team and I am sure it will give us all confidence going into the rest of the week.”
Elsewhere, the men’s C1 team of David Florence, Ryan Westley and Adam Burgess finished seventh while in the men’s K1 Joe Clarke, Bradley Forbes-Cryans and Chris Bowers claimed ninth position.
On Thursday the focus will turn to qualification for Tokyo 2020 which can be earned in the individual events.
Sportsbeat 2019