Taking on the World… one race at a time!

Finals days at World Champs is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the year for any athlete and apart from the Olympic Games, it represents the biggest stage upon which to measure up against the best of the best… and today Team SA took on the odds and staked its claim!

In an amazingly gutsy performance, Bridgitte raced out of her skin to claim a World Championship bronze medal in the K1 1000m, kicking hard over the last 150 meters to close in and claim a little bit of history and a dream end to her 2009 season. With contagious smiles all round and the South African flag flying next to those of Hungary and Germany over Lake Banook the day took on a truly special meaning!

With Bridge’s medal safely in the bag, it was then the turn of Shaun and Mike to take up the challenge of qualifying for an A final in the K2 200m. Following a chaotic heat in which Mike’s sunglasses slipped and obstructed his view of Ruby’s stroke the pair still managed to fly through to finish second and thereafter third in their semi final to claim a spot in the final… albeit giving their coach a few moments of concern along the way!

For the K4, the day represented their last race as they stroked their way down the 1000m B final, finishing 9^th but nevertheless stoked to have reached this stage of the competition.

The afternoon culminated with Greg having to find his feet back in the K1 200m after the morning’s K4, where he lined up against “und explosiv” (Team SA’s nickname for Ronald Rauhe… the phenomenally powerful German 200m specialist). Greggles put together one race better than the next and eventually finished a tight fifth in the C final where the difference to the winning time was a mere 0.8 seconds!

So what a day! C Finals, B Finals, A Finals and a medal! But without a doubt the day belongs to the bronze babe who made us and South Africa so incredibly proud!