Veteran Wallace wins epic world title
VETERAN paddler Ken Wallace has claimed another world crown after Australia’s revamped K4 stunningly snared gold in the Czech Republic last night.
Wallace and fellow Gold Coasters Jordan Wood and Riley Fitzsimmons, joined Sydney’s Murray Stewart to beat Hungary and Rio Olympic gold medallists Germany in the final.
The result was an outstanding one for Australia – and for Wallace and Wood who failed to make the A final of the K2 event.
Wallace, Wood, Fitzsimmons and Jacob Clear paddled in the K4 in Rio, finishing fourth in the final.
But the addition of Stewart, who headed into Rio underdone after battling glandular fever in the lead-up, is a combination Australia could stick with until the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 as they look to repeat their gold medal-winning efforts from the London Games of 2012.
Earlier, Curtis McGrath claimed his sixth individual world paracanoe world title with a win in the VL2 classification following his victory in the kayak earlier in the week.
“A lot of work goes into getting to these events, and to get on top of the podium,” McGrath said.
“I didn’t feel like it was my best race but I managed to pull through and get the win, so I’m pretty happy about that.”
Gold Coaster Susan Seipel narrowly missed a second medal after finishing fourth in the KL2 final following her gold-medal winning paddle in the VL2 event earlier in the week.