Henshaw and Sugar bag gold on final day

ParalympicsGB’s world-beating para canoe squad ensured that Paris 2024 ended on a high with four medals on the final day of competition.

After four podium finishes on Saturday, the largest British canoeing team in Games history matched that haul to bring back eight pieces of hardware amid vicious crosswinds at Vaires-sur-Marne.

Charlotte Henshaw had to fight to claim her second Paralympic gold of the Games as she successfully defended her KL2 title.

The Mansfield native won the first-ever women’s VL3 title before backing it up with a dominant performance a day later.

Henshaw set a Paralympic record despite tough conditions to beat teammate Emma Wiggs by 2.46 seconds with a time of 49.07.

“It was not pretty, probably not my best delivery in terms of how it looked but I’m really proud of how I managed to think quickly, draw on all my experience of water sports and managed to get that kayak to do what I wanted it to do and get over the line first,” said Henshaw.

“I’m proud of us both for battling that and it’s not been easy. It’s just beyond what I could’ve imagined.”

Wiggs now stands alone as the most successful Paralympic canoeist ever, with five medals to Australian Curtis McGrath’s four.

“Just so proud of being able to get a gold,” said Wiggs. “Three Games in a row is pretty mind-blowing and to pick up a silver today is just the icing on the cake.”

Meanwhile, Laura Sugar was delighted to claim the nation’s 49th and final gold medal of the Games.

The Saffron Walden native defended her women’s KL3 title in a Paralympic Best time, coming home in a time 46.66 to beat out home hopeful Nelia Barbosa of France by 1.25 seconds with Germany’s Felicia Laberer of Germany taking bronze.

“ParalympicsGB is an amazing team, we are constantly pushing the boundaries,” said Sugar.

“We are so well supported, we have amazing staff and it goes to show with the medals, PBs and world records.

“There’s up and coming athletes coming through and that’s what drives the sport.”

There was silver for Jack Eyers in the VL3 event on Paralympic debut.

Eyers fell short of gold by 0.35 seconds but was still delighted to claim a medal after giving up his title of ‘Mr England’ and missing out on Tokyo.

“The goal was always to start Para canoe and to become a Paralympian,” he said.

“I’ve now completed the set with Europeans, World Cup, World Championships and now Paralympics.

“I think there were times in my childhood and school life where I missed out on situations and I think it has always been a bit of a driver for me to do something different and do something special and challenge the perception of disability.”