canoe

Olympic medallist Mallory Franklin completed her return to action by winning canoe gold and kayak cross silver at the Paddle Europe Slalom Championships in Ivrea.

The 32-year-old delivered a flawless, penalty-free run of 100.47 seconds to beat France’s Doriane Delassus by 0.03 seconds and claim her third career European C1 title.

Victory marked Franklin’s first individual medal since the birth of her daughter, having opened her week in Italy with a bronze medal in the team event.

“It’s a really nice way to end the year. It’s been a tough one coming back and getting back on the start line,” said Franklin.

“I’ve been building throughout the year and it’s just a nice way to finish it.”

Franklin went on to complete a full set of medals on the final day, battling through the kayak cross knockout rounds under the floodlights to secure silver behind the Czech Republic’s Tereza Kneblova.

Great Britain enjoyed double success in the kayak cross as two-time Olympic medallist Kimberley Woods took individual gold, winning the morning time trial in 48.02 seconds ahead of Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska.

And there was bronze in the men’s K1 team event for Ben Haylett, Sam Leaver and Joe Clarke, to go with the one won by Woods, Franklin and Ellis Miller in the women’s C1.

In the men’s events, Clarke and Sam Leaver missed out on the podium in the kayak final, finishing fifth and sixth respectively behind Czech winner Jakub Krejci.

A river that is home to about 500 saltwater crocodiles has been given the OK to host Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing events at the 2032 Brisbane Games.

The course on the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Queensland, has passed an independent technical assessment into its suitability.

The assessment did not consider the crocodiles but instead looked at “how the course would perform under a range of conditions, weather patterns, water levels and flood risk at both Games time and throughout the period leading into the Games”.

The report was commissioned by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA), which noted, external that the Fitzroy River Flatwater Facility “is already a training and competition venue for flatwater sports, supporting school state championships, local regattas, and national team training camps”.

As a recognised rowing facility, contingency plans are in place at events for when crocodiles are spotted and Olympic officials have previously been assured of rower safety.

World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide, formerly International Canoe Federation, both endorsed the course.

“Based on the extensive analysis undertaken, we now know that the Fitzroy River is capable of providing fair competition conditions during the period of the Games, consistent with the requirements of Olympic and Paralympic Rowing,” World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland said., external

Paddle Worldwide President Thomas Konietzko said: “The quality and depth of the technical work undertaken has significantly improved our understanding of the field of play and provides confidence to us and our athletes that the course can deliver fair competition for Canoe Sprint athletes.”

Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris played down the issue of crocodiles last year.

“There are sharks in the ocean and we’re still surfing… it’s a can do, not a can’t do – please change the mindset here,” he said at the time.

Speaking on Thursday about the venue having now been given the go-ahead, he said: “The endorsement provides additional certainty as we move into the next phase of venue planning and Games delivery, ensuring all future design and operational work continues to focus solely on Rockhampton.”

Saltwater crocodiles – known locally as Salties – live in both freshwater and saltwater and can grow to be in excess of six metres long.