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Kimberley Woods battles to emotional K1 bronze at Paris 2024

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Kimberley Woods battles to emotional K1 bronze at Paris 2024

Kimberley Woods has needed to struggle for many issues in her life and duly battled to an emotional K1 Olympic bronze.

The 28-year-old was left on tenterhooks when occupying the ultimate podium place as reigning Olympic champion Ricarda Funk of Germany took to the course final.

Funk missed one of many final gates on the course to imply Woods stored bronze with a time of 98.94 seconds.

There was no shame in Woods ending a full 2.86 seconds behind Australian flagbearer Jessica Fox, who is taken into account one of many best canoeists of all time and carried her nation’s flag on the Opening Ceremony.

Woods was inconsolable after ending tenth in Tokyo and carried out post-race interviews in floods of tears.

This time she was left beaming and her gorgeous efficiency ensures that Staff GB have gained an Olympic medal in canoe slalom at every of the final six Olympic Video games.

“Three years later, it’s simply made each disappointing race price it,” she stated.

“It reveals that I’ve received numerous head energy! But additionally numerous energy in my physique.

“I’m actually happy with who I’ve been this yr, even within the final three years since Tokyo. I’m actually happy with how I’ve gone about every race and it’s been about ending as excessive as I can and crossing that end line being happy with the run I put collectively.”

Woods solely certified for the semi-finals in twelfth place, which means most had written off her medal possibilities.

She lit the torch by posting the third-quickest time in qualifying for the ultimate, changing into the primary paddler to e-book a spot within the run-off for medals.

Woods was impressed to take up canoeing by her grandparents and her auntie Diane gained silver on the World Junior Championships in 1994.

A sporty baby, she was mercilessly bullied between the age of eight and 14 with bullies concentrating on her look.

That have left scars and after an anterior cruciate ligament harm in 2015, Woods started self-harming and the damaging cycle was solely addressed when a coach requested her: ‘are you okay?’

She was admitted to the Priory twice and skilled suicidal ideas, harming herself as not too long ago as 2021.

“The journey I have been on, that first second of admitting that I do need assistance, that is the place I am going again to. It is okay to try this, it is okay to hunt out assist with the individuals which might be near me,” she stated.

“I’ve all the time been attempting to be open with my coach of the place I am at as a result of I see him greater than anybody else in my household.

“I am nonetheless getting assist right this moment, topping up the toolbox and ensuring I nonetheless have the talents to take care of regardless of the Video games has but in addition no matter life has.

“I really feel completely proud to symbolize Staff GB and win this medal.”

Woods’ resilience is evident for all to see – she gained a bronze medal a few days after being concerned in a automotive accident on the 2021 World Championships, her solely world gong thus far within the K1 occasion.

She has solely grown in stature in recent times and took C1 silver ultimately yr’s World Championships at Lee Valley to change into solely the third girl in historical past to win three totally different world medals in three totally different disciplines.

Woods’ foremost probability at these Video games was anticipated to be the kayak cross, by which she is reigning world champion. The harum-scarum occasion, by which boats are dropped from a ramp and struggle it out on the identical course to cross the road first, will make its Olympic debut in Paris with qualifying rounds starting on 2 August.

Sportsbeat 2024

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