Claudia Bailey has won Australia’s second medal at the ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Auronzo, Italy.
The 18-year-old won silver in the Junior Women’s K1 500 in a time of 1:53.56, just 0.11 seconds behind gold medalist Angelina Szegedi (Hungary).
It’s been a breakthrough season Bailey, who also made her Senior World Cup debut in Hungary earlier this year.
“I’m so stoked with that race, it was very close the whole way,” Bailey said.
“I had the Hungarian pushing me and it just came down to gritting the teeth at the end and getting to the finish line…I’m very happy with how it turned out.
“I got a two second personal best time, so that tops it all for me,” she said.
It was a very special race for the young Gold Coaster, dedicating her silver medal to her late grandma and wider support crew.
“Before coming (here to Italy) my grandma passed away, and I definitely felt her presence today,” Bailey said.
“And also my family back home, unfortunately they couldn’t make it but they’ve been waking up early and cheering on each day.
“Of course Val (Henot) and Kenny (Wallace) with the Queensland Academy of Sport program that past year, and more recently moving into the Paddle Australia National Centre of Excellence under Rene (Olsen) and Lawrence (Fletcher)…they’ve all played a massive part in this too,” she said.
The Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships continue in Auronzo tonight with final races of the regatta, the 5000m.
2023 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championship will be streamed live via Planet Canoe’s Recast Channel. WATCH HERE
Follow the live results HERE
