More gold for Tahiti and New Caledonia at kayak

Tahiti and New Caledonia won two more Sol2023 Pacific Games gold medals in kayak at DC Park on Wednesday.

Tahitian kayak athlete, Iloha Eychenne, secured another gold medal by winning the women’s K1-Marathon 12km race this afternoon at DC Park.

Anne Cairns of Samoa took home the silver medal, while Charlotte Robin of New Caledonia settled for bronze.

In the men’s K1-Marathon 15km race, Benjamin Legavre of New Caledonia claimed another gold, adding to his men’s K2-500m final victory.

Nohoarii Thuau, a Tahitian paddler, came second, with Andre Tutaka George of Cook Islands settling for bronze.

Despite a late start due to the conditions, the marathon races proved to be exciting and challenging for all participants.

Eychenne, now a triple gold medallist, expressed her pride in representing Tahiti and bringing home the medal.

“This is an amazing result and I’m proud to represent my country Tahiti, who are very supportive of us,” she said.

Cairns also expressed her satisfaction with her silver medal.

Legavre described the race with his Tahiti opponent as a very competitive one. “I’m really happy to get the gold after I broke my paddle in the K1-500m race, so I’m really happy to take this gold,” he said.

The kayak event will conclude on Thursday with the K2 marathon races for both men and women, featuring two paddlers instead of one.

Entrance to DC Park is free.

By Willie Fafale, Jaylyn Ernest and Karen Veraro, Pacific Games News Service