Speaking with Planet Canoe immediately after the race, she said she could not imagine what it means to be a world champion.
Jacqueline Kennedy won New Zealand’s first junior gold medal at the world championships with a 0.08s lead. Photo / Sally Cameron
“It doesn’t feel like it’s real. I can’t believe it.”
Kennedy said she had no idea she had won as they crossed the finish line.
“I could just see all the other girls in the final out of my vision.
“At that point, I was honestly so relieved that it was over.”
In a release from the ICF, Kennedy said she was “ecstatic”.
“The competition is so insane and coming from New Zealand and racing against these massive countries like Italy, the Czechs and Hungary, it just makes it even more special.
“I’ve had so much support from home.
“My sponsors, local businesses, and the people back home have been such a big part of this journey.
“I’ve got so many people to talk to tonight – I don’t think I’m going to sleep.”
Kennedy said she was nervous before the start of the final.
“I’ve had such amazing idols, like Lisa Carrington and Aimee Fisher, and to be able to represent my country the way they did means so much to me.
“When I came across the line, I was just proud that I’d finished the race and given it everything.
Gold medallist Jacqueline Kennedy (centre) on the podium alongside Italy’s Anastasia Insabella (left), silver, and Hungary’s Lili Gazdag, bronze. Photo / Sally Cameron
“I looked across and saw everyone in my team cheering me on.
“I didn’t even know what place I’d come, and then I found out I’d won.
“I was just so intensely grateful.”
The victory cemented her as the junior women’s K1 500m world champion, breaking a 13-year medal drought for New Zealand at the junior world level.
The last medal New Zealand won at the junior world competition was also in Canada, in 2013.
Taylor Newman, also from Gisborne and the Poverty Bay Kayak Club, finished third in her semi-final to make the A final of the junior K1 200m final.
Her final was on Monday, where she finished ninth overall.
Kennedy and Newman were on board the NZ junior K4 boat that finished fourth in their final, New Zealand’s best result in that event at the junior worlds.
Poverty Bay Kayak Club head coach Kim Hedley said the club was proud of Kennedy’s achievement and the performance by Taylor Newman.
“It’s an amazing feeling to have a world champion in the club and it will hopefully inspire others to climb similar heights.”
Kennedy had a strong season for Dawson Building Midway in surf life saving and won the under-19 ski in the New Zealand titles at Ōhope in March.