Adam Burgess Wins Silver Medal in Men's Individual Canoe at Paris 2024 Olympics
Adam Burgess has clinched a silver medal in the men's individual canoe event on day three of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This victory marks the first men's C1 Olympic medal for Great Britain since David Florence's silver in Beijing 2008.
I've dreamed of this moment since I was ten years old, Burgess said after the medal ceremony. I was trying to keep myself calm and think about the little kid who dreamed of this moment. I really wanted to go out and make myself proud, showing the world my love for this sport. I've done that.
Burgess, representing Stafford & Stone, followed up on Kimberley Woods' impressive bronze medal in the women's individual kayak on Sunday. It's a really special full circle moment for us, he added. We train together every day. I like to think I helped her with her medal, and she has definitely helped me with mine. When I fell off that wave and was changing up the eddy, I thought about Kim doing something similar to get herself on the podium. I harnessed her energy and was so happy to see her at the finish line.
'Magical' Moment in Paris
urgess narrowly missed a medal in Tokyo 2020, finishing fourth and missing the bronze by just 0.16 seconds. The fourth in Tokyo was in the back of my mind when I was waiting for those final three athletes, he recalled. I had done all I could and gone into first. I let it unfold and am so happy I ended up on the podium. It was the longest wait of my life. When I saw I had gone into first, it was magical.
Burgess made a strong start in the final, looking composed and assured after qualifying fourth fastest. Despite encountering difficulty on the approach to the troublesome gate 17, he fought back strongly upstream to keep his clean run going. Powering through the final section of the course, Burgess went into the lead with a time under 97 seconds, with only three paddlers remaining.
'Phenomenal' Nicolas Gestin
Germany's Sideris Tasiadis failed to break into the top three, guaranteeing Burgess a medal. Spain's Miquel Trave, the second fastest in the semi-final, recorded 97.92 after a two-second penalty, leaving Burgess with at least silver. However, France’s Nicolas Gestin, cheered on by the home crowd, delivered an incredible performance with a time of 91.36, winning gold.
Gestin was phenomenal, Burgess said. I've trained with him a lot, and he was always going to be a force on this course. Slovakia's Matej Benus secured the bronze medal.
Coached by Craig Morris at Lee Valley White Water Centre, Burgess will be back in action for the kayak cross event, starting with the time trials on Friday, August 2.
On Tuesday, Olympic medallists Mallory Franklin and Joe Clarke MBE will begin their campaigns in the qualifying heats for the women's C1 and men's K1 events.
How to Watch
Catch the Team GB canoe slalom/kayak cross team on Eurosport 1, Discovery+, and BBC One throughout the day. Further information can be found on the Paddle UK Paris 2024 website.
The BBC will provide extensive coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics across TV, iPlayer, Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website, and the BBC Sport app. Discovery+ is the rights holder for Paris 2024 and will show every moment of the Games in the UK, including all canoe slalom action. More than 3,800 hours of live coverage will air daily from 07:00 to 22:30 BST across Discovery+ and Eurosport channels in the UK. A subscription is required for Discovery+ and Eurosport. More information can be found here.
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