Great Britain celebrates double gold as Clarke and Woods triumph in kayak cross on final day of home 2023 Canoe Slalom World Championships
Joseph Clarke and Kimberley Woods doubled up on their golden haul in the kayak cross event, which will make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
Great Britain's Joseph Clarke capped off a spectacular 2023 Canoe Slalom World Championships with a second gold medal, in kayak cross, on Sunday (24 September) to follow on his earlier success in the men’s K1.
His compatriot Kimberley Woods also leaves the championships with two gold medals. In addition to the gold in the kayak cross, the British canoeist won a medal in the women's C1 team event as well as a silver in the individual C1.
Both Woods and Clarke were in top form on the home waters of the Lee Valley White Water Center, passing through all their rounds without receiving a single fault. These performances allowed Clarke to defend his 2022 world title, while Woods upgraded from last year's silver.
France’s Boris Neveu and Camille Prigent took silver medals in the men’s and women’s events, respectively. Switzerland’s Martin Dougoud won the men’s bronze and Slovenia’s Eva Tercelj the bronze in the women’s event.
Road to Paris: Anticipating kayak cross debut
Kayak cross will make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
While the 2023 Canoe Slalom World Championships were an Olympic qualifier event, the quotas were only given out in the C1 and K1 events. The top 12 athletes per gender in the C1 as well as the top 15 athletes per gender in the K1, secured quotas for their National Olympic Committees.
Kayak cross has a separate qualification pathway with the spots to be decided at the Kayak Cross Global Qualifier event in 2024.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.