CURTIS KEEPS PARACANOE HOPES AFLOAT

PARACANOE athlete Curtis Mcgrath has bounced back from what he rates as his worst ever race to win the historic maiden VL3 heat in Tokyo.

Mcgrath was left swearing at his boat after finishing third in the KL2 heat on Thursday.

He said issues with his watercraft scuppered his chances of winning straight through to Final A.

Instead, he will need to compete in the semi-finals on Friday in order to get a chance at a medal in the KL2.

The Gold Coast resident started the race well and led early before being forced to stop paddling at multiple stages.

“It was a difficult race for me, probably one of the worst of my life,” Mcgrath said. “I had a bit of a technical error, my rudder wasn’t straight.

“I was drifting out of my lane and the rule is if you are out of your lane or the centre of your lane you get disqualified.

“It is better to have it happen in the heat rather than the final. I just let it come back in and cross the line. Hoping for a good semi-final.”

Mcgrath said he was able to rectify the issue straight away.

He bounced back hours later to win heat one of the new VL3 discipline to secure safe passage directly to the final.