WAIS-AIS kayaking athletes Alana Nicholls, Jesse Phillips and Stephen Bird completed a successful world cup series by winning medals at the final event in Moscow last weekend.
Nicholls again displayed her credentials in the women’s K1 500m final, winning silver, whilst Phillips and Bird combined in the men’s K2 200m event to claim bronze, the pairs’ first ever world cup A final medal.
Nicholls was first to step onto the podium, recording a time of 2:06.310mins in the K1 500m final, to finish behind Russia’s Vera Sobetova, with fellow Russian Anastasyia Sergeeva in third.
Nicholls described the strong head wind conditions as the most difficult she had encountered across the three leg world cup series, but reflected that it was important experience such conditions given what could be served up during the London Olympics.
Nicholls also praised the world class facilities in Moscow, which will host the world championship in 2014. (The interview is available at the bottom of this news report).
Completing a busy world cup campaign, Nicholls also finished fourth in the K1 200m final, finalising a consistent set of performances over the three world cup events.
Fellow WAIS athletes Jesse Phillips and Stephen Bird also tackled the tricky wind conditions to capture a first ever podium finish in the men’s K2 200m A final. The London bound duo, finished third behind two Russian crews and returned home with a huge amount of confidence following a world cup series that included a string of personal best times.
Phillips declared himself and Bird, the “fastest boat in the Southern hemisphere” but said there is much room for improvement, as they look to convert their world cup podium for that of an Olympic platform.
The trio is now back home in Perth, where they will finalise preparations under the guidance of WAIS coach Ramon Andersson, before travelling to London for the 2012 Olympic Games.
