Lizzie Neave insists her European Championship disappointment is now well and truly a thing of the past after securing gold at the Canoe Slalom World Cup in Cardiff.
Neave, who was Britain’s sole female canoe slalom representative at the London 2012 Olympics last summer, finishing 12th in the K1, placed seventh at the Europeans in Krakow.
And, while frustrated by that performance, Neave was left feeling the opposite at the World Cup in Cardiff as she took gold in the K1 for her first win ever in an individual event.
After Kimberley Woods’ win the C1 on Saturday, David Florence and Richard Hounslow contributed another British medal in Wales with silver in the men’s C2.
And 26-year-old Neave, who saw Fiona Pennie take gold at the Europeans earlier in the month, admits the victory in Cardiff has shot her confidence through the roof.
“The European Championships a couple of weeks ago didn’t go quite as I would have liked,” said Neave. “So to come back and take the win is a big boost for me.
“My aim was to attack it, stay focussed and stay on plan. I did a run that I’m really happy with and I came up with the result.
“That’s my first individual gold medal so I’m really happy with that. I’ve had gold medals in the team events before but never in the individuals.
“My previous best was a bronze at Worlds, Europeans and World Cup but never better than that. It’s great to know that when I’m on plan I can be the fastest in the world.”
© Sportsbeat 2013