Canada’s Mark de Jonge had fruitful day at the Pan Am games yesterday
The reigning world champion and record holder won gold in 200-metre kayak sprint. An event he was expected to win.
The surprise of the day came he and Pierre-Luc Poulin teamed up for the K-2 200m kayak - an event that is not theirs and just managed to clinch 3rd place.
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| Aaron Lynett/The Canadian Press |
They crossed the line neck and neck with the Brazilians and clocked in five-one thousandths of a second behind them.
“I was just doing the math in my head,” he said, afterward.
“And it’s under two inches between us. Cameras can’t pick that up.”
It wasn't until 45 minutes later — after the Canadians had talked to the media about just missing out on a bonus medal — the announcement came through that they had, in fact, according to the international sprint kayak rules, tied for bronze.
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| USMAN KHAN / AFP/GETTY IMAGES |
De Jonge pick up the two medals the fact he is still not at peak fitness, because he is still building up to peak at the world championships in next month. So he will be confident heading to Milan.
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| Aaron Lynett/The Canadian Press |
“I raced well. I’m really proud of myself today,” he said. The 31 year old Halifax paddler is at the peak of his career. He missed 2004 and 2008 Olympics by a single spot, winning his first a medal (Bronze) at his Olympic debut in 2012.
Tuesday’s five-medal day brought Canada’s medal total to 10.Jason McCoombs picked up silver in the men’s 200m. Laurence Vincent-Lapointe won gold in the women’s 200m canoe event. Michelle Russell took silver in the women’s 200m kayak and canoe.