Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods triumphed with a bronze medal in a thrilling women’s kayak single (K1) final at the Vaires-Sur-Marne Nautical Stadium during the Tokyo Olympics.
The 28-year-old showcased her prowess by qualifying third fastest in the semi-finals and maintained her form in the final, completing a clean run in 98.94 seconds to clinch her first Olympic medal.
Starting third from last, Woods moved into second place behind Australia’s Jessica Fox, the eventual gold medalist, but was later edged into bronze by Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska.
The competition took a dramatic turn when Germany’s Ricarda Funk, the reigning champion, incurred a major penalty of 50 seconds for missing a gate. Thus, Funk missed out on a podium finish and secured Woods’ bronze.
Celebrating with her team after her medal confirmation, Woods redeemed herself from tears at her Olympic debut three years ago, when a final run mishap left her in last place.
Looking forward, Woods aims for gold in kayak cross next week, a discipline making its Olympic debut in Paris, where she is the reigning world champion.
Woods joins Helen Reeves as only the second British woman to achieve a podium finish in K1 at the Olympic Games, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Reflecting on Woods’ achievement, Reeves commented, “What a fantastic start for Woods! She has shown exceptional paddling skills and consistently stepped up her game.”
Despite qualifying eighth fastest, Jessica Fox emerged as the dominant force and secured the gold medal with a time of 96.08 seconds, remaining unbeaten ahead of Zwolinska.
Woods’ Olympic success underscores her resilience and determination in overcoming personal challenges, including childhood adversity and a severe car accident shortly before the 2021 World Championships, where she still managed to secure a bronze medal.
Her journey to Olympic glory has been marked by setbacks and perseverance, culminating in a well-deserved bronze medal, which she celebrated amid an enthusiastic crowd in Paris.
