London 2012: GOLD FOR BRITAIN! McKeever races to glory

Ed McKeever becomes Team GB's 26th gold medallist. Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire

Saturday, August 11, 2012
10:09 AM

Olympic kayaking: More glory for Great Britain on the water as McKeever powers to gold

Ed McKeever secured Great Britain’s 26th gold medal of London 2012 with an outstanding win in the men’s kayak single 200 metres at Eton Dorney.

It was a historic triumph for McKeever, as he became the first ever Olympic champion in the K1 200m, an event that only came into existence three years ago.

McKeever, known as the ‘Usain Bolt of canoeing’, showed all his strength as he blew the field away with a flying start in lane four.

Having won both his heat and his semi-final, McKeever could feel confident of his medal chances and he held onto his lead from start to finish as the crowd roared him home.

“I was really just focused on the first two or three strokes, I wanted to nail those and hope the race sorted itself out and it did,” McKeever told the BBC.

“It was just relief at the end, not elation, more relief and so happy I could do it in front of the home crowd.

“I woke up at 5am this morning, I was like a kid at Christmas waiting to get his presents and I’m going to get those presents in a minute.

Saul Craviotto Rivero of Spain took silver and Mark De Jonge of Canada got bronze but it was a comfortable win for McKeever, who pumped his fists in triumph after crossing the line.