Paris 2024 canoe sprint: Katie Vincent beats Nevin Harrison to clinch historic single 200m gold in photo finish; Cuba wins first Olympic canoe medal

Canada's Katie Vincent powered to glory in the women’s canoe single 200m, crossing the finishing line ahead of Team USA's Nevin Harrison in a photo finish to win gold at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on Saturday, 10 August.

In a thrilling dash to the line, the 28-year-old pipped defending champion Harrison by just one-hundredths of a second to set a new Olympic and world-best time of 44.12.

"It is so crazy. I don’t know what I just did, I am still processing," she said. "I am so happy. It was an incredible race by the whole field.

"I woke up this morning and just wanted to do my best and put down something to be really proud of. I had a personal best time, a world record and (I) am Olympic champion, so I can’t be any prouder."

Cuba’s Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys took bronze – a first Olympic medal for the nation in women’s canoe - with Antia Jacome of Spain and Yuliya Trushkina narrowly missing out on the podium in the final Olympic regatta at the venue.

Nine-time world champion Vincent, who won bronze in the double 500m on Friday and finished eighth in the event at Tokyo 2020, was behind Harrison with 50m to go, only to surge ahead to win her maiden Olympic title in the French capital.

It was the first Olympic title for Canada in any women’s canoe event.

"First gold. I have always wanted to be an Olympic champion since I was a kid," she said. "I can’t believe it right now. I worked so hard for this, (through) so much adversity. I am so grateful to be here.

"To celebrate with so many people and so many Canadians in the stands, that is something I will remember forever."

Women’s canoe single 200m podium

Gold: Katie Vincent, Canada, 44.12

Silver: Nevin Harrison, USA, 44.13

Bronze: Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys, Cuba, 44.36

All results on Olympics.com.