Portugal 2018: Emotional final day

Experienced names joined by new star as Worlds draw to a close 26 Aug 2018
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female Para canoeist Emma Wiggs performing a stroke

Emma Wiggs battled through injury to win the women's VL2 title

ⒸICF
By ICF

Tears flowed freely as three more world titles were decided on the final day of the 2018 Para canoe World Championships, with Australia’s Curtis McGrath winning his second title for the week, Great Britain’s Emma Wiggs overcoming enormous pain for her gold, and Brazil’s Igor Tofalini winning his first world title.

Wiggs fought through the pain of a badly injured wrist to win the women’s VL2, one of the three new Paralympic events contested on Saturday.

But the Brit, who lost her KL3 world crown to teammate Charlotte Henshaw earlier in the week, was playing down the significance of her injury.

“I’m just proud to have sat on the start line and delivered the best I possibly could, and today that was good enough for gold,” Wiggs said.

“It’s really irrelevant, injuries. If you line up on the start line, then you are there to race with whatever you’ve got.

“Obviously the silver medal was disappointing, everyone wants to lay down their best and hope that’s good enough to win. But I can’t really be unhappy, it helps that it’s my teammate on the top spot.”

McGrath makes it two

Australia’s McGrath picked up his second gold medal in as many days and his eight of his career when he triumphed in the men’s VL3.

McGrath raced in an eye-catching new boat which measured considerably shorter than other boats in the field.

“It’s pretty good,” McGrath said.

“It’s a metre and a half shorter than everyone else’s boat here, so it’s a very different shape. I think there are a few little tweaks I’d like to see before Tokyo, but it looks good in the water and it’s doing the job for me.

“It’s nice to be able to do two boats, it keeps it stimulating and exciting at the same time.”

First title

The most emotional of all Saturday’s Paracanoe gold medallists was Brazil’s Igor Tofalini, who overcame his teammate Luis Silva to win the VL2, his first ever world title.

The former rodeo rider gave Brazil their first gold medal in the Para canoe events in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal.

Complete results can be found on the International Canoe Federation's website.