World championship success for NSWIS paddlers

Three NSWIS athletes have won medals at the 2011 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Hungary over the weekend, securing Australia a number of boats at the 2012 London Olympic Games in the process.

Naomi Flood opened the NSWIS medal account with a bronze medal in the women’s K1 1000m. Flood, who transferred her talent from the Australian ironwoman ranks, finished in 4:14.12 and secured a boat for Australia in the same race at next year’s London Games.

Flood’s bronze was then followed by silver for fellow NSWIS athlete Murray Stewart. Stewart joined compatriots Jacob Clear, David Smith and Tate Smith to take second in the men’s K4 1000m. The Australian quartet nearly pulled off a huge upset before being caught by Germany with less than 250m to go. The silver puts the team in good stead for the 2012 Games.

The final day of competition saw NSWIS athlete Jo Brigden-Jones win bronze in the women’s K2 200m with fellow Australian Hannah Davis. The Australian duo finished in 38.369, less than half a second away from gold.

Australian Canoeing’s National Performance director Richard Fox said despite the lack of a gold medal at the championships, he was confident about the path the national team was taking.

“A year out from the London Games, we are in a good position, with a number of athletes coming back into contention for London,” he said.