Mallory Franklin said the excitement surrounding kayak cross debuting as an Olympic event in Paris is because competitors are still figuring out how best to approach it.
Next year’s Games will see the event which was previously known as extreme slalom feature for the first time as a combination of white water disciplines.
Franklin, who won silver for Team GB in Tokyo in 2021 in the canoeing C1 event, has been selected as part of the slalom canoe squad and will look to go one better in Paris whilst also aiming for the podium in kayak cross.
And she observed that amongst her and her fellow competitors, there is a sense of stepping into the unknown, with the wider sport’s understanding of the new discipline still in a process of evolution.
“Kayak cross is still actually very new, and exactly how to train best for it and perform best in it is reasonably unknown,” the 29-year-old said.
“I went into Tokyo doing a debut event and now going into Paris doing a debut event. C1 at Tokyo wasn’t much of a variation, but kayak cross is very different. Within our races, it’s still developing. The rules are changing.
“It feels a bit hard to bring that into the Games, but that kind of allows so much freedom in how you choose to go about it.
“I can understand why people really like it. I think it can give quite a lot to slalom and give that level of excitement that other disciplines don’t give.
“It’s a funny thing because it seems like you’re doing (canoeing and kayaking) side by side but you aren’t, because we train in the morning then in afternoon, and each time you arrive at one of those sessions it’s new and it’s fresh and it may as well be a different day.
“It’d be really cool to be that first person in the (medal) list.”
Franklin was announced as one of the four-competitor canoeing squad for Team GB alongside Kimberley Woods, Joe Clarke and Adam Burgess.
Despite her success in Tokyo this will be her first experience of an Olympics in front of a crowd, after the last addition was held without spectators due to the Covid pandemic.
“I’m going for the classic ‘ignore (the crowds)’,” she said. “I haven’t experienced anything massively like it. I did go to London to watch some of the canoeing but I was young and don’t remember it very well.
“The weird thing with Tokyo was being sat in the start line and realising the camera was in my face, the number of people on the other side of that. That indirectly put pressure on me.
“Loads of these people care about what I’m going to do for the next two minutes, but it affects none of their lives except me.
“Trying to bring that feeling to when there are people physically there. A lot of them might get mad or dead angry or happy depending on the outcome, but it’s only for those two minutes.
“To focus on me and how I want to come out of that I’ll basically just have to ignore the humans.
'You can be where Julien Alfred is': Joanna Alfred encourages aspiring athletes to reach for their goals
Joanna Alfred is a proud mother, and it is clear for all to see.
But while she basks in the accomplishments of her daughter Julien Alfred and the recognition that comes with having a historic double Olympic medallist in the family, the senior Alfred used the opportunity to remind aspiring athletes that they too can become a national hero like her daughter.
“Yes, she is one of the biggest heroes today because of where she came from and where she started. And I also want children to learn from that and understand that it doesn't matter where you come from; you can still be where Julien Alfred is,” a beaming Joanna said as the island continues to celebrate her daughter's homecoming.
Having come from humble beginnings in Ciceron, situated in St Lucia’s capital Castries, Alfred honed her talent overtime and rose through the ranks on her way to copping an historic 100m gold and 200m silver at the Paris Olympic Games in August. Prior to that, she became the first St Lucian to win a World Indoor 60m title.
Those accomplishments followed an impressive NCAA campaign in which she copped the NCAA indoor 60m and 200m titles, as well as the outdoor honours over 100m and 200m. She was also the 2023 Bowerman Award winner, the prize given to the outstanding collegiate track and field athlete each year.
While the journey was by no means easy for either Alfred or her family, Joanna pointed to one thing in particular that assisted her daughter along the way –parental support.
“You can support your child. God will do the rest. So everything's going to fall into place,” she declared.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child, and indeed it does because if I didn't have the support of at least Twa Ti Ney [Julien’s local coach, Cuthbert Modeste] when her father passed, he became the father figure in this young lady’s life, then again I would have to struggle, so it took a village to raise a child as well,” Joanna shared.
Beyond the background support, Joanna pointed out that Alfred’s grit, determination, and unflinching desire to become a successful athlete were the foundation on which she rose to prominence and inevitably became the sprint queen of the island with a population of just about 180,000 people.
“It was not the food on her plate but the food in her mind that really encouraged her because even when she faced situations, the food in her mind really encouraged her to be where she is,” Joanna declared.
St Lucian queen: Olympic champ Julien Alfred returns home to hero's welcome
St Lucia’s double Olympic medallist Julien Alfred returned home to a rapturous welcome at the Hewanorra International Airport on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, other government members, and St. Lucia Olympic Committee personnel were among the official welcome party.
An emotional Alfred was at a loss for words.
“I don’t want to get emotional, but today I really want to give thanks,” Alfred said.
The 23-year-old, who copped gold and silver in the 100m and 200m at the Paris Games, expressed gratitude to family, friends, her village, the government, her coach Edrick Floréal, and Cuthbert ‘Twatiné’ Modeste for their unwavering support along the way.
“Even when I gave up, he [Modeste] came back to look for me in Ciceron. So many people have guided me and helped me to get to this point, and I really just want to say thank you to all of you, even those I haven’t mentioned. I just want to say thank you,” she shared.
“I have dreamt of this day for such a long time—just being an inspiration to the youth of St Lucia, wanting to give back and wanting to inspire them so we can have many more Levern Spencers and many more Daren Sammys and many more like myself,” Alfred added.
Prior to her Olympic Games exploits, Alfred also copped the World Indoor 60m title as she consistently etched her name in the annals of St Lucia’s and the world’s sporting history.
While many now share in her success, Alfred highlighted that the journey was by no means smooth sailing.
“It was truly a rocky road. Many days I wanted to just give up, throw in the towel, and just say, ‘I’m done’. But my village, those persons who were around me, I just want to say thank you for just everything you have done for me. I really appreciate it,” Alfred noted.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre pointed out that Alfred’s athletic prowess was a reminder that the potential for excellence is very much alive in the island with a population of just over 179,000.
“Julien’s recent achievements at the Olympic Games transcend sports. They have been a source of inspiration to all St. Lucians, especially our youth,” Pierre noted.
Meanwhile, Youth Development and Sports Minister Kenson Casimir likened Alfred’s success to a blessing from God, as St. Lucia is the only nation named after a woman.
“And it is a woman that has taken us to the pinnacle of the entire globe. We are blessed because we have the perfect representative of a St. Lucian taking us to that level. Somebody who is kind. Somebody who loves people, somebody who is generous and humble. That person is Julien Alfred,” Casimir declared.
Grand weekend celebration planned to honour Grenada's Paris Olympic team
Grenada’s athletes to the Paris Olympic Games are set to be feted with much pomp and pageantry when they return home over the weekend, following their credible performance at the recently-concluded global multi-sport showpiece.
The six-member team comprising Kirani James, Lindon Victor, Anderson Peters, Halle Hazzard, Tilly Collymore and Zachary Gresham will be celebrated for their efforts in track and field and in the pool, as they gave Grenada much to be proud of.
Victor’s decathlon bronze, as well as Peters javelin bronze represents the Spice Isle’s highest-ever medal haul at an Olympic Games.
James, the island’s most decorated athlete, just missed out on a medal in the men’s 400m, as he placed fifth.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Government of Grenada announced that ceremonies will take place on Saturday August 17 and Sunday, August 18.
Peters, James and Victor will arrive on Saturday.
“The activities have been put in place to celebrate athletes who have brought glory and honour to our land,” said Acting Minister of Sports Delma Thomas.
“Let’s get together and be part of the grandest welcome ever, as we celebrate Grenadian resilience and excellence,” she added, while encouraging citizens throughout Grenada to organize in their various communities to participate, especially in the events on Sunday.
The athletes will be greeted by government officials, sport associations’ executives and family members, while Grenadians are invited to join the greeting party outside of the airport at 2:00pm. The weekend’s activities will also include a national motorcade on Sunday, August 18, which begins at Morne Rouge and a recognition rally at the Playing field in Victor’s home parish La Sagesse.
Thomas also hinted at some major announcements regarding the development of sports that will be made at the La Sagesse rally. Packages to honour all the Olympians will also be unveiled in a special address by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
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