The British team made history at the ICF World Cup in Lee Valley this weekend (6-8 June) producing a clean sweep of gold medals in the team events.
At the conclusion of three days’ competition at the London Olympics venue GB finished at the top of the table with seven gold and a silver medal in total.
Part of UK Sport’s National Lottery funded Gold Event Series; the event attracted over 4000 spectators across the weekend.
Like many of the home athletes, Britain’s C2 paddlers Rhys Davies and Matthew Lister felt the home support was a major factor in the team’s success.
“It was the best crowd and an amazing feeling competing at home; the home advantage with that crowd is amazing,” said Lister, who was part of the winning C2 Team and also made his first C2 final.
World champion David Florence, who was victorious in the C1 event, as well as the C1 and C2 Team events, also paid tribute to the large home crowd enjoying the first international competition hosted by the centre since the London Games.
He said: “To take a victory anywhere is incredible and especially here where I train in front of a home crowd.
“I could hear the crowds on every run, and people were shouting on the start line and cheering all the way down the course. There were a bunch of kids I help coach and to hear them running all the way down was great.”
UK Sport’s Director of Major Events Simon Morton added: “It’s always fantastic to see an Olympic legacy venue hosting a world class event and attracting such large, enthusiastic crowds.
“Among the many upcoming events taking place as part of our Gold Event Series, we look forward to the Canoe Slalom World Championships at Lee Valley next year, when British athletes will hopefully enjoy further success on their Road to Rio.”
UK Sport’s National Lottery funded Gold Event Series is aiming to bring 70 of the most important international sporting events to the UK by 2019, using the legacy of London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.