The redemption story of Kimberley Woods, who won an Olympic bronze medal, unfolded in under 150 seconds, yet it felt like an eternity for the Rugby kayaker.
At 28 years old, Woods was still grappling with the memory of her disappointing finish in her first Olympic final in Tokyo three summers ago, where she faced 56 seconds of penalties. This time, she held a secure third place as the defending champion, Ricarda Funk, was the only competitor left who could potentially take her spot on the Paris podium. Funk had been the fastest in the afternoon semi-finals.
Funk’s error further down the course, resulting in a hefty 50-second penalty, placed her in 11th with a time of 149.08 seconds. This outcome secured Woods’ time of 98.94 seconds as sufficient for her first Olympic medal, with Jessica Fox from Australia claiming gold and Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska sneaking into silver with a fantastic penultimate run.
“This feels absolutely incredible,” Woods expressed. “I’m astonished by how long this journey has taken. After 20 years of paddling, I finally have a medal around my neck.”
Woods recounted, “As Ricarda Funk approached the finish, I couldn’t bring myself to watch. I was on my knees, head in hands, until I suddenly heard the crowd erupt. There was a mistake, and I realized: ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I’ve done it.’”
“Looking back over the last decade, the journey I’ve taken has been remarkable. I feel really proud of who I am today, capable of being open, and using my platform for the betterment of others.”
Woods has openly shared her long-standing battles with mental health and self-harm, including two stays in a private mental health hospital, and thoughts of suicide during her toughest times.
In an interview with The Guardian, Woods, who was introduced to kayaking by her aunt Diane – a silver medallist at the 1994 World Junior Championships – revealed she hadn’t harmed herself since a race leading up to the Tokyo Olympics. She mentioned that the medal “makes everything worthwhile.”
“Reflecting on my journey, the pivotal moment for me was admitting I needed help. It’s perfectly okay to seek assistance from those close to me.”
“I’ve always aimed to maintain open communication with my coach, as I see him more than anyone in my family. I’m still getting support today, learning to expand my toolkit and ensuring I have the necessary skills to handle whatever challenges the Games—or life—presents.”
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Following her heartache in Tokyo, Woods made a remarkable comeback, earning a world championship bronze medal in 2021, just ten days after a car accident.
In September, she achieved her first world title in kayak cross on home ground at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Lee Valley, where she also garnered silver in C1 and won gold and bronze in the C1 and K1 team events.
On Friday, she will have another opportunity to compete for gold in an event where she currently holds the world championship title, as kayak cross makes its Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
“I might be considered one of the favorites in kayak cross, but I’m focusing on enjoying the experience and engaging with the crowd. I can’t wait to be back on that ramp.”
