Australia has won its second medal at the ICF Slalom World Championships at Penrith’s Whitewater Stadium, with Kate Eckhardt claiming bronze in the women’s K1 final.
Eckhardt, who started third in the 12-paddler final, avoided time penalties to lead the overall standings with 103.84 seconds for much of the medal round on Thursday afternoon.
Bassett wins bronze at world titles
She shifted back to the silver-medal position when Poland’s Klaudia Zwolińska (100.32) completed her run, before Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods (102.09) moved into second place.
Eckhardt had to endure an anxious wait when Camille Prigent went down as the final paddler, but the Frenchwoman eventually finished in sixth place.
“I was proud of the run that I did, so I was really, really happy with how I performed and I put it all out there,” Eckhardt told the Nine Network.
“So, I just had to wait and see. There were so many fast girls out there.
“I was very, very nervous looking at who was to come.”
Eckhardt’s teammate Noémie Fox (114.40) finished 12th in the final.
It is Australia’s second medal of the world titles, with Kaylen Bassett collecting the bronze medal in the men’s C1 event on Thursday.
Zwolińska has two gold medals, having topped the podium in the women’s C1 final.