The canoe sprint specialist couldn’t manage to defend his title but recovered well to take third
Liam Heath MBE has brought home another medal for Team GB after narrowly coming third in a tight men’s kayak single final. The canoe sprint is an electrifying event and it was neck and neck towards the end there.
Heath was looking to defend his title and add ‘double Olympic gold medallist’ to his long list of achievements, but after an uncharacteristic slow start, he had ground to make up and boy did he! Watch this incredibly narrow photo finish.
https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1423114243336032257?s=20
While it wasn’t the start he wanted, to not only recover so well but virtually match the leading race pace is seriously impressive. Bronze or otherwise, that’s now four Olympic medals for Heath.
The seasoned 36-year-old sprinter set an Olympic best time of 33.985 seconds during Wednesday’s qualifying and after taking home the gold in Rio, was many people’s favourite to do so again. Regardless, it was a truly incredible recovery from the Guildford-born athlete and another medal for Great Britain.
Related links
- This is how Team GB is doing at Tokyo compared to Rio and London
- Team GB boxer criticised for refusing to wear silver medal and ‘sulking on podium’
- Michael Johnson shuts down Piers Morgan in Olympic medal debate
