Team USA | Nevin Harrison Claims Her Second Olympic Medal in Canoe Sprint

VAIRES-SUR-MARNE, France — Nevin Harrison got here to the Olympic Video games Paris 2024 to defend her Olympic gold medal in ladies’s canoe dash.

The 22-year-old American got here oh-so-close. In a photograph end, Harrison claimed silver behind Canada’s Katie Vincent. 

“Having come off gold from Tokyo into silver, it is disappointing within the second,” Harrison admitted. “However I feel in reflection, it is nothing however satisfaction and feeling actually pleased with myself that I went on the market and fought as arduous as I did. 

“However in that second when you realize, it was simply so shut, you are at all times going to have these little ‘what ifs’ at the back of your head.”

Their occasions — 44.12 for Vincent, 44.13 for Harrison — smashed the previous world and Olympic finest occasions. The previous world finest for the 200-meter canoe (44.50) had stood since Might 2018. Harrison’s Olympic finest from 2020 was 44.93.

“I knew that I might go that quick and I am certain (Vincent) did too,” mentioned Harrison. “Lastly placing these occasions down and breaking that world report that occurred so way back positively I am certain felt good for her, and I am extremely comfortable for her. That is bought to be the perfect accomplishment ever. 

“However I am additionally pleased with myself. I put that point down too, and hers might need been a hundredth of a second sooner, however it’s nonetheless a world report in my coronary heart.”

Ladies’s canoe dash made its Olympic debut on the Olympic Video games Tokyo 2020, and Harrison, 19 on the time, grew to become the game’s second-youngest feminine champion. On the time, she mentioned, “As a result of I am so younger, I’ve bought to have yet one more Olympics in me, at the very least.”

However the Seattle, Washington, native has had a tricky paddle since Tokyo — transferring to San Diego, altering coaches, enrolling at San Diego State College, and balancing her lessons, coaching, and work whereas additionally combatting accidents. A yr in the past, Harrison didn’t even know if she would make it to the Paris Video games.

“Being right here within the first place was a blessing in and of itself,” she mentioned, “and any medal that I’d convey house can be even only a cherry on high.”

Accidents flared up every week in the past when Harrison tore ligaments in her neck. On Tuesday this week, the ache was so unhealthy after observe that she cried.

“Combating that within the final week and making an attempt to ensure having lidocaine patches on my neck each single observe, combating that ache has been actually arduous on high of it,” she mentioned. “You at all times marvel what if I did not harm myself final week? What would I’ve been in a position to do? 

“However in the end, you may’t change what’s occurred, and you actually simply should take it day-to-day, and that is what I’ve executed. I could not be extra proud.”

All the time athletic, Harrison found the game of canoe at summer time camp when she was 11 years outdated. Till then, she was a 100- and 200-meter sprinter in center faculty. However a hip damage led medical doctors to diagnose her with hip dysplasia. She wanted surgical procedure if she wished to proceed with monitor and area. Surprisingly, provided that canoe athletes kneel in a lunge in slim boats and energy the one paddle with their cores, from shoulders to hips (and legs as nicely), canoe was a sport Harrison might do successfully, even with hip issues.