The penultimate day of Canoe Sprint action at Paris 2024 saw China, Germany, New Zealand and Czechia claim fold medals.
Here are some quotes from the day.
Mengya Sun (China)
“We know that if the gold medal is not ours, it means nothing. So we just tried our best to get this medal. We were really determined to win this Games. From the first Games (Tokyo 2020) to now, and from the start line to the finish line, we just tried to be our best selves.”
Anastasiia Rybachok (Ukraine)
“It was a very quick race and a very hard race. We are so happy we are silver medallists in two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris. We are so happy. This is for our country, for Ukraine. She ( Liudmyla Luzan) and I love the sport.”
Katie Vincent (Canada)
“I knew we were in the top three. Just credit to the Ukraine team (who won silver). I mean it's still incredible. The only difference is Sloan. We started a new journey two years ago. We came sixth in the world championships and now we are on the Olympic podium. We are really excited.”
Lisa Carrington (New Zealand)
“It’s really surreal at the moment and will probably take a little bit to sink in, but it’s the paddling I love and I love this team. Nothing could ever beat that feeling.”
Jule Marie Hake (Germany)
“I don’t know. This was incredible. We were fighting until the end. We tried to stay within ourselves, and we saw that some of the others were a little bit in front of us after 250 meters. We stuck to our race plan. Congratulations to the Hungarians and especially to the New Zealanders. They are incredibly fast and strong, but we are working on it to get them.”
Jacob Schopf (Germany)
“The best is always at the end. It was the perfect final for the Olympics. I like to paddle with Max (Lemke) in the boat. In 2021, with Max (Hoff), we got the silver medal. Twenty metres before the finish line, the Aussies caught us. This time, with another Max, we caught the Aussies and came in first. It was a three-year plan to catch the Aussies, and it was perfect. Thanks to our coach. He made this happen.”
Martin Fuksa (Czechia)
“You said it right, finally, finally. In Tokyo (2020), I was fifth and in Rio (2016) I was fifth, and now finally an Olympic champion. I have so many medals from the European and world championships, and now I finally have an Olympic medal, and it is gold. It is the best medal of all the ones I have. I am so thankful to my family and all my fans. It is a dream come true.”
Isaquias Guimaraes Queiroz (Brazil)
“I am very happy to win the silver. It feels very good to be in that position. I was very happy to win in front of my son and my family. I am really happy to have this medal. My family is here, and I am so happy to have them here. I am so happy to win a medal for them and in front of them. It is amazing to end the season with an Olympic medal.”
Serghei Tarnovschi (Moldova)
“I am happy because I can repeat my result from Tokyo (2020), but I know I was very close to silver but I was up against two Olympic champions. Everyone in the race wanted to win and everyone is either the world champion or an Olympic medallist, and everyone wants to win and take the medal, but it is very hard - it's the Olympic Games, It's very hard.”
Jean Van Der Westhuyzen (Australia)
“Getting an Olympic medal is super special. I think you'd trade any world championship medal for it. It's mixed emotions. It feels like you could have executed better, but that's sport. That's why we love it, it's why we wake up every day and train for it. It's still so special and I loved being out there with Tommy (Tom Green).”
Bence Nadas (Hungary)
“It’s a good feeling because it’s my second Olympic Games and the first one, I missed the podium, we were fourth in the 1000m. In Paris, we won the silver medal together. It’s amazing. My dreams came true, because in 2017 I dreamed of competing in the same boat with Sandor (TOTKA) in an Olympic final, and it came true. We won a medal.”
