Music: {allcanada} Canada paddles its way to gold

Friday, October 28, 2011

{allcanada} Canada paddles its way to gold

GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Toronto's Steven Jorens and Richard Dober Jr. of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que., won gold in the men's K2 1,000-metre race Friday at the Pan American Games.

With the victory, the paddlers qualified a spot for Canada in the event at the 2012 London Olympics.

Jorens and Dober won in a time of three minutes 17.230 seconds, 1.928 seconds ahead of Cuba's Reinier Torres and Jorge Garcia. Argentina's Pablo De Torres and Roberto Geringer Sallette (3:19.599) took the bronze.

Meanwhile, Emilie Fournel of Dorval, Que., won the silver medal in the women's K1 500-metre kayak race.

Fournel finished in 1:54.900, just 0.657 seconds back of Carrie Ann Johnson of the U.S. for the gold. Argentina's Alexandra Keresztesi (1:55.765) was third.

Earlier in the day, Canada picked up a bronze medal in the men's K1 1,000-metre race.

Philippe Duschesneau of St-Denis-de-Brompton, Que., paddled to a time of 3:44.504, a day after picking up a silver with Dober, Jorens and Connor Taras of Waverley, N.S., in the men's K4 1,000.

"I was a bit nervous before the race because there were two false starts, so that kinds of pumps up the anxiety for everyone, but overall I had a good start," Duschesneau said. "It's the first medal I've won internationally, so I'm really happy with how it went."

Garcia took gold with a time of 3:41.257, while Argentina's Daniel Dal Bo won silver in 3:43.038.

Canada now has exactly 100 medals (25 gold, 32 silver, 43 bronze) at the Games.