Paracanoe came to an end at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, culminating in more thrilling action as five more gold medals were won.
Here are some of the stand-out quotes from Sunday’s medallists at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium:
Charlotte Henshaw (Great Britain) – "That was probably the hardest kayak race I've ever had in terms of conditions. It was so challenging. You can see we all had a bit of a wobble in the middle, a great big crosswind. It's testament to the guys back at home, our coach Hannah (Brown), who reminds us every day that we can manage in any conditions. I had to draw on every ounce of that in that race. Thankfully, it got me over the line in that gold-medal position and I couldn't be happier."
Laura Sugar (Great Britain) – "(A Paralympic Games record time) is really cool. It's not the best conditions, but I know I'm capable of some really fast times this year, I've just not quite had the conditions to do it. It doesn't matter about times really on the day, it just matters about beating everyone else. But I’m really happy to improve that Paralympic Games best. We train in Nottingham in the UK, so a little bit of wind doesn't faze us, we're not afraid of that. It's just managing it and doing your race process, and then dealing with whatever happens during the race.”
Katherinne Wollermann (China) – "I cannot even describe how I'm feeling right now. I've been fighting for this for 10 years now and I'm extremely happy to have this medal in my hand. I've been improving from Paralympics to Paralympics, and the proof is this medal. I've just been working a lot, training a lot to get here through different weather and different challenges we had to face. I was feeling the air, feeling the nature, feeling the wind. That actually helped me to get here and to just feel the boat move better."
Vladyslav Yepifanov (Ukraine) – "I didn't expect this. I'm surprised and everything is good. I will not stop, and I plan to have two more gold medals. Curtis McGrath is a legend in the sport and I'm sorry he didn't get a medal. But the result is good and it's good to have a better result in our lives. I want to have a best time everywhere - at the Paralympic Games, the world championships and European championships.”
Fernando Rufino de Paulo (Brazil) –"I feel amazing. It feels great to have yet another medal. I've been training for three years to get here and get this medal, but the real feeling of it, I'm only going to get after the Paralympics when I get home and start really thinking about it. I'm very proud of my country, and very proud to see it getting better at each Paralympics. Brazil is a very strong nation in para sports, so it's great to see it getting better and better. It feels amazing to get these two medals."
Igor Alex Tofalini (Brazil) – "It's a privilege to be here and be able to train with the Paralympic champion Rufino. He's my friend and colleague and we help each other. (The facial hair) is actually a homage to the recent movie that came out, 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. Wolverine had facial hair and that's why we did that, because we love the movie and we love Wolverine. All the love that we got from everyone in Paris. All these flags mean so much to us, and it was amazing to be in this atmosphere in the Paralympic Games.”
Emma Wiggs (Great Britain) – "Charlotte (Henshaw) is incredibly built for our sport. She's so strong and just perfect for canoeing. She's an incredible athlete and a great teammate. I'm chuffed for her. We train six days a week, 49 weeks of the year, all together, so I see the graft that goes in. I'm so proud of her and the other members of the team that have done Great Britain proud again. Forget the wind, it's been an incredible Games. The French people have opened their hearts to us and to Paralympic sport. Merci beaucoup, France."
Maryna Mazhula (Ukraine) –"This is three years of really hard work for me. This is three years of less sleep, less speaking with my family. This medal is really very, very hard and important for me. In Tokyo it was my first big competition, first Paralympic Games. I was in other competitions, but it was championships, and I wasn't so much prepared for the Paralympic Games. Here I'm very well-prepared emotionally, I was ready for this competition.”
Nelia Barbosa (France) – "It's been years that I've been waiting for this. To be able to come second at home, in front of this crowd, in front of my friends and family and everyone I love, I'm so emotional. Today was like a dream. I had a really hard preparation, so I was really stressed about racing here in Paris in front of the French crowd, but I loved it. If I could do it again, I would do it 10 times. It was a good performance in a tricky race. I gave everything, I gave 100% today, I managed that race well and I didn't expect to do as well. I'm so proud of myself."
Jack Eyers (Great Britain) –"I'm so proud, so happy, a dream come true. I was here this time last year for the test event in conditions similar to this. I didn't perform very well, didn't handle the boat. The last 12 months I've been working on exposing myself to these sorts of conditions and the hard work's paid off. A lot of work I've been doing is on how I'm feeling mentally and emotionally. The tattoo (he plans to get) is going to represent the Games, but is also going to be quite closely adhered to that. I haven't finalised any designs yet. I also don't want to say too much because my parents might tell me not to do it. I'd rather turn up with it."
Edina Mueller (Germany) – "It's not always the fastest paddler that wins, but also the paddler that can paddle against the conditions best. That was the case today. These are very tough conditions for me, wind from the side, I can't steer. These are my fifth Paralympics and I don't have a bronze yet, so I have a full set now. These Games just gave me everything. I was flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, and now I won this bronze medal. It couldn't be better."
Steven Haxton (USA) –"I’m a little bit lost for words. I try to keep the medals out of my mind until it's over, but it feels great. This is such a good field. That's one of the best races the event's probably ever had, the Brazilians being as fast. They're phenomenal to compete against. It means a lot – it’s probably going to haunt me, finding out where I could get 3/100ths (of a second) faster, but what a race. I feel like that was probably my best effort today.”
Anja Adler (Germany) – "It feels incredible. It's a really big dream, which comes true today. I have no words for this. I dreamed such a long time for a medal at the Paralympics and, in these tough conditions, this dream came true. It's amazing. This journey is a really long journey. After my accident, when I started my Paralympic sport with paracanoe, I was always dreaming about being part of the Paralympic Games. It's not just my medal, it's the medal of so many people on my team - coaches, staff, technicians, my family, my friends."
Felicia Laberer (Germany) –"It feels like gold for me, winning this. I have had many mental problems this year, and now I'm very happy.”
Peter Cowan (New Zealand) – "It means the world to me. I just saw my family, and they represent what's been a bit of a journey of mine for a long time. Along the way, I've been able to share this dream with many people in my family and community, so it's pretty special. I come from a Polynesian background, Samoan and Maori. In New Zealand, we adorn the pounamu (jade) and I've got my ula (necklace) on from my dad's side of the family. It's special to me because it's my culture, who I am. Today I just get to pay homage to my father. He passed away two years ago. Bringing him on my journey here in Paris means a lot to me."
