Estanguet wins canoe gold
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 01/08/2012 at 07:39 GMT
Frenchman Tony Estanguet beat his old rival Michal Martikan to claim a third Olympic gold medal in the canoe slalom single competition at the Lee Valley White Water centre.
France's gold medalist Tony Estanguet (C) stands with Germany's silver medalist Sideris Tasiadis (L) and Slovakia's bronze medalist Michal Martikan during the victory ceremony for the men's canoe single C1 event at Lee Valley White Water Centre (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
Estanguet afforded himself a wry smile when he heard the roars and saw the Slovakian flags waving before his surge to gold.
Slovakia's favourite son Martikan had just sliced down the Lee Valley White Water course in 98.31 seconds, guiding his bright red canoe through the surging foam to take the lead.
Next up was Estanguet, who like Martikan already had two Olympic gold medals to his name in the event during a rivalry that goes back more than 15 years.
Launching out of the starting pool, the 34-year-old from the foothills of the Pyrenees where he learned to paddle, Estanguet found the perfect balance of speed and precision to negotiate the 23 gates 1.25 seconds quicker than his great rival.
Spinning through the last upstream gate before driving to the finish, Estanguet roared his delight when seeing his time.
In the end they were divided by Germany's Sideris Tasiadis who snatched silver but it was the Martikan factor that had inspired Estanguet to take gold, as it has done throughout a career that has also brought him three world titles.
It was an emotional moment for Estanguet who suffered a setback four years ago in Beijing when he did not even make the final, having carried the French flag at the opening ceremony.
While he now has three Olympic golds to the two of Martikan, the Slovak's bronze medal was a record fifth by a canoe slalomist at the Olympic Games.
"He is a great champion and it's because of him that I work so hard in my training," Estanguet, who once described his sport as "one long family sporting vacation", told reporters, his chunky gold medal hanging from his neck.
"That's because I know that's exactly what he'll be doing. When he's on the starting list you know that you have to do something special to beat him.
"I wasn't surprise he produced a great run again today. It was not so easy to compete after him because i heard the fans cheering and I was sure he had done a good time. I just tried to stay me and concentrate on my job."
All sports need great rivalries.
Tennis has Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, ice hockey has Canada v the United States and track and field has been blessed with the likes of Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett.
Canoe slalom has Estanguet and Martikan but it may well be reaching its conclusion with the Frenchman not sure if he will continue riding the white water through to Rio de Janeiro.
"It was good to have another big fight with Michal," Estanguet said. In our sport, he and these other guys are really fast and it's hard to reach the final of the race.
"We have a special story. I told him that I respect him a lot and he has made some of the great moments in my career.
"This medal today is very special, it's probably my last chance at the Olympic Games.
"I won't decide today, but the next few months and four years would be very tough."
Martikan, who can content himself with a fifth Olympic medal, said he has no thoughts of retirement.
"I love this sport very much and I can't stop now," said the 34-year-old from the Tatra mountains.
"Although it's my fifth medal in five Olympic Games, I'm a bit disappointed. It wasn't a difficult course."
Canoe slalom action continues on Wednesday with the men's kayak K1 semi-final and final.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement