Silver start for Stewart

Olympic gold medallist Murray Stewart has kicked off his international canoe sprint season in style by winning silver at the first World Cup event in Milan, Italy.

Competing with compatriot Jacob Clear, who was also part of the victorious K4 1000m crew in London, the duo raced to the lead after a characteristic strong start. Eventual champions Poland reeled Stewart and Clear in after 250m, with the Australian duo eventually taking silver by just 0.75 seconds.

Also competing in Milan were fellow NSWIS athletes Jo Brigden-Jones, Naomi Flood and Lachlan Tame.

Brigden-Jones and Flood combined to finish seventh as part of the Australian women’s K4 500m crew, with Brigden-Jones also notching a ninth place finish in the women’s K1 200m, and Flood finishing eighth in the women’s K1 500m.

Tame recorded his best World Cup finish by taking fourth in the B final of the men’s K1 200m.

The ICF World Cup now moves to Racice, Czech Republic from 16-18 May.