Sport

Hartley strikes gold at Canoeing World Cup

30 June 2008

Bridgitte Hartley paddled her way into the canoeing history books by winning South Africa's first ever gold medal at a sprinting World Cup regatta when she won the women's 1000 metres A-final on Sunday in Poznan, Poland.

Following hot on the heels of her silver medal in the Duisburg World Cup earlier this month, Hartley paddled the race of her life to win the final by a massive margin; in the process she confirmed herself as one of the canoeing world's fastest rising stars.

Hartley, who hounded the other star of South African women's sprint canoeing Jen Hodson for the right to race the K1 in the women’s 500 metres at the Beijing Olympics, has focused on the non-Olympic 1000 metre races after losing her bid to snatch the Olympic berth from Hodson.

"I have discovered that I seem to thrive under pressure," said Hartley. "Even though I get very nervous, as I did in the last two World Cups, I actually have exceeded my own expectations."

Hodson, in the meantime, remains right on track for her Olympics dreams after another fourth place in the 500 metres A-final, which was a repeat of her result in the Duisburg World Cup.

In the men's categories, East Rand superstar Shaun Rubenstein racked up two more World Cup A-final results that will boost his confidence for the Beijing Games.

He posted a very competitive seventh place in the 1000 metres K1 final on Saturday and followed that the following day with a sixth in the blue ribbon men's 500 metres K1 A-final.

Completing a stellar weekend for the Lotto-backed team South Africa, the women's K4 crew posted a sixth place in the A-final of their 500 metres event.

The SA team is set to return to South Africa for a short rest before heading back to Szolnok, Hungary, for a final training camp. After that it's on to China for the Olympic Games in August.

RESULTS

Canoeing World Cup
Poznan, Poland

K1 MEN 1000 metres A-final