Canoe sprint season kicks off

The canoe sprint season kicked off over the weekend with the first grand prix event taking place in West Lakes, South Australia.

NSWIS athletes Lachlan Tame and Naomi Flood were the standout performers over the weekend, with each athlete winning multiple gold medals at the event.

Tame triumphed in the men’s K2 1000m on the opening day of competition, then won gold in the men’s K2 500m on day two, before adding gold in the men’s K1 200m and K2 200m on the final day of the event to take home three gold medals. Tame also added bronze in the men’s K1 1000m to his medal swag.

Naomi Flood was on song over the final two days of the competition, winning gold in the women’s K1 and K2 500m events on day two, before adding gold in the women’s K1 and K2 200m events to close out the grand prix. Flood also took home silver in the women’s K1 1000m.

There was a promising return to the water from Jo Brigden-Jones, who earlier this year underwent shoulder surgery. Brigden-Jones performed strongly in her comeback to take silver in the women’s K1 200m and bronze in the women’s K1 500m.


Rising star Riley Fitzsimmons also performed well, winning gold in the men’s U18 K2 1000m and U18 K2 500m, silver in the men’s U18 K1 1000m and bronze in the men’s U18 K1 500m.