The high-performing New Zealand women's kayakers today narrowly missed out on adding a fourth medal to their haul from Tokyo.
New Zealand – Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, Catlin Regal and Teneale Hatton – finished fourth in a quality final of the K4 500. The race was won by Hungary, Olympic champions in 2012 and 2016, in 1min 35.463s. Bulgaria were second, Poland third and New Zealand fourth in 1min 37.168s, just ahead of Germany.
The New Zealanders were unable to establish a lead at the start, unlike in previous races, but at the halfway point were very handy in third. However, the Hungarians were strong and Bulgaria and Poland timed their runs to the finish well.
In their semi-final earlier in the day, New Zealand led for much of the journey then seemed to take their foot off the pedal near the finish to place second behind Poland.
The result in the final means that the New Zealand flatwater canoeists finished the regatta having made five finals for golds in the women’s K1 200, K1 500 (both Carrington) and K2 500 (Carrington and regal), fourth in the K2 500 today, plus fifth in the men’s K2 1000 (Max Brown and Kurtis Imrie).