It was a field day for home favourites including Camille Prigent and Boris Neveu at kayak cross while Joseph Clarke of Great Britain and Jessica Fox of Australia shined in their respective races.   

Here are some quotes after athletes after round one and repechage of kayak cross at Paris 2024. 

Jessica Fox (Australia)  

“It's always hectic, even in round one it's tough. All the competitors are great. Good to get top two, which was the goal today. It was good. I just had to get through this round to get through the heats tomorrow, so job done. I'm not fussed. We will see what the brackets are tomorrow. It's back to square one. Yes, I'm tired, but a lot of the girls are tripling up, and if they aren't tripling up they're doubling up. But usually we do this in one day, and the fact that it's just one run (today) means more rest, which is good.”

Camille Prigent (France)

“Really happy, first step done. It wasn't easy because I had two really good girls against me, I knew I would start right away into serious competition. I wanted to have a good time trial so I could pick a spot on the ramp throughout the whole competition. It's a good start, even if some things need to be done. I try not to care too much who I'm against because I know all the girls are really good. You can't underestimate anyone in cross, I'm trying to focus on myself and have my own plan.” 

Kimberley Woods (Great Britain)

“It doesn't really matter what lane you have. Yes, the middle waters might be a bit faster but I know I'm super strong regardless of where I go. If I messed up that first turn, then I knew there would be elbows. I knew I could deliver and keep the hammer down and make sure I kept the distance. I'm really happy with that.

Luuka Jones (New Zealand) 

“I am a little disappointed, not the race I wanted to start with, but there are plenty more rounds to come. I have less priority of lane chance moving forward. I will have third or fourth lane choice in the next race. It is pretty important. You want to have one of the right lanes, so you can get out in front, but it is kayak cross and I just have to trust myself to react at the right moment.”

Joseph Clarke (Great Britain)

“Job done for today, just try to get through the first, put the burners on for the first 20 or 30 seconds, and then just ease off and save the arms for tomorrow. That's kind of like my super strength is that start, those first few strokes getting the power down, and hopefully I can keep deploying that through the round and I think from any lane I can get ahead. The longer the course, if you can keep fresher arms, it gives you those afterburners you can chase back up if you need to and the longer the course, the more time you have to make up any mistakes.”

Finn Butcher (New Zealand)

“Happy with first. The plan is to get out in front at the start, then you can race your own race a little more. I'm super stoked to get it out of the way. They put you up on the ramp early and it's pretty exciting, but just focusing on trying to get a good start. It probably takes about a minute to get up there and then you wait for about four minutes. It's pretty cool though; the music is good, the crowds pumping, the commentators are ripping into it and getting everyone excited, so the next few days are going to be epic.

Yves Bourhis (Senegal)  

“Good. I decided not to train the kayak cross very much because I injured my back. But it was really fun and I enjoyed it. I always said I didn’t want to race, but now I am super happy about racing. The other day I was out in Paris to see some friends and some people stopped me and said well done for my race. I was like, ‘What, you saw my race? Why do you say that?' I don’t understand why everyone likes me and everyone is cheering for me, but I am really enjoying it.”

Lukas Rohan (Czechia)

“It was quite an interesting run. It's very new for me. I'm trying to learn from my mistakes and I made a lot of them, but I got a chance in the end. I said to myself, he gave me the chance, and now it's my time. I need to use it because I really wanted to go through one run today and get to Sunday's programme. It was my chance, my time, and I used it very well. I thought 'This is the end', but I am quite happy with how I reacted in the situation, because it was probably the fastest way to get back in the stream and just try to continue. He (BARAT) made a mistake. He gave me the chance. I had the speed and I tried to use it, so I crashed into him, because that is kayak cross.”

Boris Neveu (France)

“Job done. It is never easy, but it was a very good start. I was alone on the first gate, and when you are alone at the first gate it is easier to come in first position, so that was good for today. Thanks to them, we have had a great atmosphere on the team. They did the job and now it is our time to do it. I will try to do the same. It’s great. It’s good for the sport. Lots of people like this spectacular show. There is some fighting and we have the ramp. I think it is good for canoeing.”