‘It’s finally me’: kayaker Kimberley Woods’ joy after claiming first Olympic medal

Kimberley Woods’s Olympic bronze medal-winning redemption took less than 150 seconds to confirm, but the wait felt like an eternity for the Rugby kayaker.

The 28-year-old, who three summers ago in Tokyo was distraught after incurring 56sec of penalties for a bottom finish in her maiden Olympic final, was in third position with only one competitor left who could knock her off the Paris podium – the defending champion, Ricarda Funk, the fastest finisher from the afternoon’s semi-finals.

But the German’s mistake at the bottom of the course cost a 50sec penalty and she finished 11th in 149.08, ensuring Woods’s 98.94 was good enough for her first Olympic medal behind the Australian Jessica Fox and Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska, who snuck into silver with the penultimate run.

“It feels absolutely incredible,” Woods said. “I can’t believe how long my journey’s been. I’ve been paddling for 20 years now and finally have a medal around my neck.

“Ricarda Funk coming down, I couldn’t watch. I was on my knees, I was head in hands not being able to watch and all of a sudden I heard the crowd shout something and there was a mistake and I was like: ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe I’ve done it.’

“That whole journey of where I’ve come from in the last 10 years has been incredible. I’m really proud of who I am today, being able to be open and speak, use my platform for good.”

Woods has been candid about her long-term struggles with mental health and self-harm, twice checking into a private mental health hospital and experiencing suicidal thoughts at her lowest points.

In a Guardian interview the paddler, who was introduced to the sport by her aunt Diane – a silver medallist at the 1994 World Junior Championships – said she had not harmed herself since after a race just before the Tokyo Olympics. Woods said the medal “makes everything worth it”.

“The journey I’ve been on, that first moment of admitting that I do need help, that’s where I go back to. It’s OK to do that, it’s OK to seek out help with the people that are close to me.

“I’ve always been trying to be open with my coach of where I’m at because I see him more than anyone else in my family. I’m still getting help today, topping up the toolbox and making sure I still have the skills to deal with whatever the Games has but also whatever life has.”

Woods bounced back in the years after her Tokyo heartbreak, claiming world championship bronze in 2021, 10 days after she was involved in a car crash.

In September, she claimed her first world title in kayak cross on home turf at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Lee Valley, where she also took C1 silver alongside gold and bronze in the C1 and K1 team events.

On Friday she will have a second crack at gold in the event in which she is world champion, with kayak cross making its Olympic debut at Paris 2024.

“I’m probably maybe one of the favourites in the kayak cross but I’m not thinking about that, I’m just thinking about being out there and enjoying the crowd, and I can’t wait to sit on top of that ramp.”