PARALYMPIANS HEADLINE DAY 1 WHILE AUSTRALIA QUALIFIES FIRST QUOTA AT 2024 CANOE SPRINT GRAND PRIX 2 AND OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Australia’s Paralympians and Paralympic hopefuls have made their first bid for Paris 2024 in this morning’s Kayak and Va’a finals at the 2024 Canoe Sprint Grand Prix 2 and Oceania Championships.
Three-time Paralympic gold medalist Curtis McGrath and reigning world champion Dylan Littlehales went head-to-head in the Men’s Kayak Multiclass Final, with New Zealand’s Scott Martlew.
With the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games less than 200 days away, Littlehales said it was nice to be back out in the water in a racing environment.
“It was a good race to start the year. Not the best times in the world but we’re experimenting with new foot plates and paddles so overall it was very positive,” Littlehales said.
“Good to blow the cobwebs out for the year, and feel what it’s like to go off the line and through the 200 metres.
“Ever since Paris (World Cup) end of last year, we haven’t had a chance to do that, so to actually have a good hit out and remember the feeling is good…onwards and upwards,” he said.
After qualifying a quota at last year’s World Championships, McGrath said this regatta is about working towards securing his place on the Australian Paralympic Team.
“It’s nice to be back in the saddle, and racing against Dyl and Scotty Martlew from New Zealand,” McGrath said.
“It’s great that everyone is excited about Paris, and everyone is looking forward to it, everyone’s working towards it and everyone’s really excited for the opportunity.
“We’ve got some new faces this cycle, which is nice to see that the sport is growing too,” he said.
With the next quota qualification opportunity for Australia’s Paralympic hopefuls at the World Championships in May, Amy Ralph said it’s good to be back in a racing environment and preparing for a massive few months ahead.
“It was so good, it’s so nice to be back racing. This is what I love about what I do so it’s super exciting to be back,” Ralph said.
“We all like to chat when we’re not together, but it’s super nice to be back with everyone and feeling like a team.
“Tomorrow we’ve got some 500 metre races as well, so that’ll be good practice and very exciting.
“We work for moments like this and it’s good to see everything starting to come together and it’s exciting to see what will happen in a couple of months,” she said.
In the women’s C1 200 Final, Tokyo Olympian Josephine Bulmer provisionally qualified Australia a quota for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Having been preparing for the Oceania Championships, Bulmer said it’s good to be back in Sydney and racing in ideal conditions.
“It’s very different water to what I’ve been paddling back home…nice flat conditions which is a treat,” Bulmer said.
“It was super important (to qualify that quota for Australia). This will be the second time for women at the Olympics, so I definitely want to see Australia on the start line again.
“I’m finished racing this weekend now, so a really short regatta for me. But we’ve got Nationals in a few weeks time, where I can hopefully secure my spot on the team,” she said.
NEED FOR SPEED AS AUSSIE K4 CREWS WIN GOLD AT 2024 CANOE SPRINT GRAND PRIX 2 AND OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Australia’s men’s and women’s K4 crews have delivered gold medal performances on day one of the 2024 Canoe Sprint Grand Prix 2 and Oceania Championships.
In the men’s K4 500 final, the Australian crew of Riley Fitzsimmons, Jackson Collins, Pierre van der Westhuyzen and Noah Havard powered down the course in a time of 1:19.67.
Collins said they were stoked to be able to put down a good time under the pressure of racing conditions.
“We haven’t had a chance to race that boat since Worlds last year. We had a bit of a hit out here at Sydney International Regatta Centre for the NSW State Championships a few weeks ago.
“That gave us a bit of an indicator of where we’re at, but it’s great to be able to come and do a full race here.
“It feels really good to get a time like that, that was the highest pressure race for us, so it feels like it’s a bit of a weight off the shoulders,” he said.
With Olympic selection up for grabs, van der Westhuyzen said it was great to see his team be able to perform under pressure.
“It’s huge to have these boys there with me through this journey,” van der Westhuyzen said.
“When you get to those situations where you have one shot at it, it changes and your mindset has to be ready to go.
“You have to trust each other, you have to trust your training base, you have to trust your ability and you just have to go and execute what you know you’re capable of,” he said.
In the women’s K4 500 final, Australians Ella Beere, Aly Bull, Ally Clarke and Yale Steinepreis teamed up to win gold.
With just over 160 days to go until the Paris Olympic Games, Bull said it’s good to see all the work and training they’ve put in paying off.
“It’s crazy, it’s come around quick, but it does feel like a long time since we raced Worlds in August.
“We were keen and a bit nervous for that first race and to start off Olympic selections. For us, it’s a big season and it’s good to have one race done now.
“It’s super flat out there, I think there was a little puff of head wind. We had a good start, we just need to sharpen up our back end, but it’s early days and we’re super excited,” she said.
Racing will return to Sydney International Regatta Centre tomorrow from 8am AEDT. For the full schedule – click here
