After just one day of ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships action, Great Britain have claimed two C1 medals with gold for the women’s team and silver for the men.
Kimberley Woods, Mallory Franklin and Eilidh Gibson worked seamlessly as a team to claim the C1 title, which will come as a welcome confidence boost before the individual event on Wednesday.
The trio became European and U23 World Champions earlier this year and finished 1.65 seconds ahead of Australia to add the senior title to their collection in Pau.
And Franklin, who will look to back up a sensational season which has seen her claim two World Cup silver medals, feels hopeful of individual success after today’s showing.
“It is pretty cool to win today, it was a bit of a fight and I made a bit of a mistake getting too close to Kim which caused me to paddle back, but to show we are that good as a team at this standard is really good,” she said.
“I tend to not usually feel that in control on the water in Pau, but in both my kayak and C1 I felt in control today and I was able to put the boat where I wanted it to be.
“It makes me feel pretty good going into tomorrow, but the course will be different and will probably tighten up a bit.
“Today was slightly more open and about working as a team rather than the course being that difficult but it will be harder tomorrow.”
Triple Olympic medallist David Florence led the way for the men’s team, with Ryan Westley and Adam Burgess following behind in a clean run for Great Britain.
Burgess had enjoyed a taste of the World Championship at under-23 level, but admitted this result is important for him as he and Westley adapt to senior competition.
“Normally a good team race after the individual events is a consolation, but with the team events being first this week it is a massive confidence boost to put down a good run at the start and feel in control as well, so it certainly helps for the individual events,” he said.
“For the last World Championships I was ranked 43rd and this year I am ranked seventh so I certainly feel more established at senior level now.”