The long wait is over. The first canoeing races of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are done, and the favourites did not have many problems getting to the semifinal phase of the canoe slalom competition. Local favourite Nicolas Gestin was the fastest in men’s canoe heats.
Loud fans in the Vaires-sur-Marne stadium were happy when local favourite Nicolas Gestin produced the best run in men’s canoe heats. He was fast in both runs – he came down the course in 89.90 in the first attempt, while in the second run he even improved his performance with 88.78.
“I feel great, the atmosphere was insane,” said Gestin. He continued, “I was so happy to race here. I'm really happy to take the front - I put my boat on the start and had to say, 'Nico keep your focus', it was so loud.”
Britain’s Adam Burgess finished second, while Croatia’s Matija Marinic and Italy’s Raffaello Ivaldi ranked third and fourth respectively.
Australian Jessica Fox was the fastest in women’s kayak heats, Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska came in second, while Camille Prigent from France finished third on the first competition day in Paris.
“It’s incredible. It's pushing you at the beginning. I was impressed by all this noise on a heat day, but I stayed focused, and it helped me during my run,” said Camille Prigent on loud home crowd.
The defending Olympic Champion from Tokyo Ricarda Funk (GER) had the sixth time of heats.
The first canoe slalom medals in Paris will be awarded on Sunday to the best in women’s kayak final.
Source: https://www.canoeicf.com/news/what-paddlers-said-day-one-canoe-and-kayak-paris-2024
Photo: Romain Bruneau / ICF
27.7.2024
