'Doesn't feel real': Kate Eckhardt claims bronze medal as Noemie Fox endures tough day at world championships
Updated . First published at
Kate Eckhardt has made the most of her time at the canoe slalom world championships, producing a career-best result to secure a spot on the podium for Australia.
Eckhardt was the third athlete to hit the rapids in the women's kayak final and punched a blistering time of 103.84 to put herself into the mix for a medal.
That time was also coincidentally the same time that Camille Prigent posted in the semi finals to position herself at the top of the pack for the gold medal race.
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Olympic stars Klaudia Zwolińska and Kimberley Woods were the only competitors to manage a faster time than the Australian, with the pair claiming their medals with times of 100.32 and 102.09 respectively.
Eckhardt's best result prior to hitting the rapids in Penrith was 28th overall at a world championship event in the K1 discipline.
Kate Eckhardt Getty
A spot in the final was one Eckhardt admitted was a "dream" she hoped would come true at her local course, but the opportunity to step onto the podium was even sweeter.
"It doesn't feel real at the moment," Eckhardt told reporters post race.
"I think it's going to take a while to sink in. I was really happy with how I composed myself coming in.
"I was really nervous because I knew that anyone else on the lineup could have gotten ahead of me. There is so many good girls in the final.
"It is so special to have been able to pull everything together in front of a home crowd."
Watch the ICF Slalom World Championships live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Zwolinska's win marks the first time a female has won the C1 and K1 disciplines at a world championships since 2018, with Jess Fox the last person to do so.
Noemie Fox finished 12th in the final with a time of 114.40 after a difficult semi final performance earlier on Friday.
She produced a steady run down the rapids to record a time of a 108.77 in what positioned her in 10th place overall on the live leaderboard.
Noemie Fox of Australia Getty
The 28-year-old Penrith local was joined by her sister, Jess, and mother Myriam as the official times came through and she scraped into the final.
"It was definitely a nervous wait," Fox said after qualifying.
"I found it hard to find my flow, felt very on edge and nervous.
"I'm super satisfied to just squeeze through with my teammate Kate.
"We are such strong paddlers and now we are starting off first in the final."
