MONTRÉAL, QC — Team Canada delivered a strong showing on home waters with 9 medals at the ICF Canoe and Para Canoe Sprint World Cup, held from July 9-12 at Parc Jean-Drapeau. This World Cup event marks the first time an ICF World Cup has been held in Montreal and the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games.
Ben Brown opened the podium tally for Canada on the second day of competition with a silver medal in the VL1 200m, the first Canadian result of the World Cup.
Canada continued to build momentum on day two, with three more podium finishes, including Brianna Hennessy – Silver, KL1 200m, Sophia Jensen – Silver, C1 200m, and Edouard Beaumier, Alix Plomteux, Eric Chouinard, Nikita Cuidin – Bronze, C4 500m.
“It was really awesome to get four guys together in such a short time and make that race happen,” said Plomteux. “We played on our strengths and kept it simple! You could really feel the cheers in the last 200m of every race!”
Canada closed out the final day of World Cup action with their biggest medal haul of the week, including another silver medal for Sophia Jensen – Silver, C1 200m, Brianna Hennessy – Silver, VL2 (Women), Erica Scarff – Bronze, VL3 200m, Zoe Wojtyk, Elizabeth Desrosiers-McArthur, Sloan Mackenzie, Katie Vincent – Bronze, C4 500m (Women), and Katie Vincent – Bronze, C1 500m event.
“I’m just really excited to be here and compete in front of all my friends and family,” said Jensen. “I’ve never heard so much cheering coming down the course. It was really cool and it really motivated me to push!”
Brianna Hennessy continues her World Cup podium streak this season with two back-to-back silver medals in Montreal. “I’m really happy I was able to stick to my game plan,” said Hennessy. There is always more to do, especially on my starts, but overall I think this was one of my better races and I’m happy about that!”
Other personal-best performances for Team Canada included Toshka Besharah (5th, K1 200m), Michelle Russell (6th, K1 500m), Laurent Lavigne (8th, K1 200m), and Connor Fitzpatrick (8th, C1 1000m).
“That was a PB for me – I’ve been wanting to break 40 (secs) so I’m happy with this performance,” said Besharah. “I really want to break into the medals, so I have some work to do in the lead-up to the Senior World Championships. I’ll be working on my starts with my coach, with the goal of bringing home a medal.”
In addition to all the exciting World Cup racing in the Olympic Basin, Canoe Kayak Canada hosted a number of events honouring CKC Alumni and Olympians from the 1976 Olympic Games – 50th anniversary.
“I want to congratulate Canoe Kayak Canada for organizing this event on such a professional level,” shared ICF President, Thomas Konietzko. “The Host Organizing Committee executed everything really well, and the athletes love it here in Montreal.”
Team Canada will now compete at the Pan Am Championships at the same venue from July 13-15, marking an important ranking event for all COPAC countries.
-30-