Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Team GB’s Kimberley Woods settles for bronze as Noemie Fox wins gold in women’s kayak cross
Updated 05/08/2024 at 22:26 GMT+1
World No. 1 and reigning world champion Kimberley Woods had to settle for another bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after being upset in the women’s kayak cross final. The Briton rushed out to the early lead, but hit trouble on multiple obstacles, causing her to fall out of the race for gold. Australia’s Noemie Fox stormed to the gold medal, while Angele Hug of France claimed silver.
GB's Woods claims hugely dramatic bronze in kayak cross as Fox takes gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
Team GB’s Kimberley Woods claimed her second bronze medal of the Paris Olympic Games in the women’s kayak cross final.
Woods, the world No. 1 and reigning world champion, was the favourite to claim gold in the event, but struggled on multiple obstacles during a thrilling final at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
Australia’s Noemie Fox finished ahead of Angele Hug of France to claim the gold medal, emulating her sister Jess Fox’s triumphs in the K1 and C1 events earlier in the Games.
Woods, who earned her first Olympic medal in the K1, fell to a Fox once again in the cross as she could not replicate her dominant performances in the quarter- and semi-finals.
The 28-year-old made a strong start and found clear water early in the final, but immediately ran into trouble on the first upstream gate when she got caught up with Hug, allowing Fox to take the lead.
After a tight battle with Fox through the downstream leg of the course, Woods then got stuck on the second upstream gate which saw her fall to fourth.
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'It's nuts!' - Woods and Clarke reflect on Olympic kayak cross medals
Video credit: TNT Sports
Fox cruised to victory from there, with Hug finishing closely behind followed by Germany’s Elena Lilik.
Woods was not able to make up ground and ended up crossing the finish line in last, but was soon upgraded to third after Lilik was penalised for missing a gate.
It was Woods’ second medal of the Games after she earned bronze in the K1 canoe slalom final, three years on from heartbreak in the same event in Tokyo where she was hit by a 56-second penalty to finish last in the final.
However, her second bronze in her favoured event will come with a tinge of disappointment.
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Watch as jubilant Fox family jumps into water in epic kayak cross celebrations
Video credit: TNT Sports
Fox, who eliminated her sister Jess during Sunday's heats, added to her sibling's two gold medals in a successful Olympics for the family.
The French crowd celebrated silver for Hug, while it was heatbreak for Lilik after her penalty on the second gate.
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
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