Dubbed “Usain Bolt on water,” Britain’s Ed McKeever powered to victory in the men’s K1 200m in front of thousands of screaming fans yesterday to take the first gold awarded in the new shorter and more explosive Olympic distance.
McKeever, a trainee accountant from the southwestern English town of Bradford on Avon, said that having won gold he was now more willing to accept the nickname given to him by the British media.
“Luckily I’ve got the gold medal to go with it,” the unassuming winner told reporters on the side of the lake. “I’m more willing of that tagline.”
Photo: AFP
“After the start, I was kind of out clean and I just held on. My main emotion was probably relief,” he added.
The sprint over 200m, lasting about 36 seconds, is designed to increase interest in the sport, with the canoeists taking about three strokes per second in a fast and dramatic fight for the line.
McKeever, who had started the race as a favorite after emerging from the heats as the fastest qualifier, powered off the start in blustery head-wind conditions to take a lead over the rest of the field.
He punched the air as he crossed the line about 0.25 seconds ahead and ran his hands through the water, before waving to the grandstands.
Spain’s Saul Craviotto Rivero took the silver and Canada’s Mark de Jonge the bronze.
“This morning I woke up feeling like a kid at Christmas, waiting to get his presents, and I am going to go and get those presents in a minute,” McKeever told the BBC after his victory, nodding in the direction of the podium.
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a
RSS