Finn Butcher stuns world champion to win gold in canoe slalom cross

Finn Butcher has produced the paddle of his life to claim the first-ever Olympic gold medal in the men’s canoe slalom cross.

Up against British world number one Joseph Clarke in the final, Butcher made the perfect start to the race, battling hard to find the front of the field of four at the first marker.

That initial fight proved to be Butcher’s hardest of the race, as from that point on he executed his compulsory eskimo roll and every gate manoeuvre flawlessly to finish well ahead of his rivals at the finish line.

Earlier, Butcher also won his quarter-final with ease, though he was blitzed by Clarke in their semi-final; which illustrated just how big of a performance it was from the Kiwi in the final.

Fellow paddler Luuka Jones, competing in her fifth Olympics, wasn’t as fortunate in her playoff run as she was eliminated in her semi-final after crossing the line second before being ruled to have missed a gate and was relegated out of the final.

Jones eventually went on to win the small final of the women’s event, handing her fifth place overall.

Jones acknowledged this will almost certainly be her last Olympics just moments before Butcher announced his status as New Zealand’s top slalom paddler.

Jones was speaking to Kiwi media before the men’s gold medal race interrupted the chat and the tears that were threatening to arrive before the race came as her compatriot crossed the line first.

Individual disappointment immediately replaced by pride in her teammate.

Butcher is the first Kiwi man to win gold in an individual sport since Mahe Drysdale in the men’s single sculls at the Rio Games in 2016.

The 29-year-old grew up in Central Otago and began paddling at age 9 at a “have a go” day on a local river and immediately fell in love with the sport, developing into an elite athlete over the years.

“I had lane three which probably wouldn’t be the one I’d choose first but they had a bit of a tangle on the inside and I just took advantage and sent it straight. Worked out in my favour I suppose,” Butcher said on his gold medal ride to Sky Sports.

He was thankful for all his support group.

“It was insane to be down there. To have that crew here has been unbelievable. Back home I’ve had so many messages from people saying they’re watching and supporting and that our sport is freaken awesome. It’s insane.”

“I dreamt a lot about it.”

- Written by the NZ Herald and republished here with permission.