Charlotte Henshaw battles brutal conditions to claim second Paralympic gold at Paris 2024

By Milly McEvoy at Vaires-sur-Marne

Charlotte Henshaw had to fight to claim her second Paralympic gold of the Games as she successfully defended her KL2 title.

The Mansfield native won the first-ever women’s VL3 title on Saturday before backing it up with a dominant performance on Sunday.

Henshaw set a Paralympic record despite tough conditions to beat teammate Emma Wiggs by 2.46 seconds with a time of 49.07.

“Oh my goodness that was a fight,” said Henshaw, who is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – which has been vital on their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.

“That was probably the hardest 200m weather-wise that I’ve ever had to do at a major.

“It was not pretty, probably not my best delivery in terms of how it looked but I’m really proud of how I managed to think quickly, draw on all my experience of water sports and managed to get that kayak to do what I wanted it to do and get over the line first.

“I’m proud of us both for battling that and it’s not been easy but I’m grateful we got the job done and I can’t even believe I won a gold yesterday and I’m standing here with another one.

“It’s just beyond what I could’ve imagined.”

Henshaw’s two golds helped Britain finish top of the Para canoe medal table for a third Games in a row with eight medals.

The 37-year-old, who trains at Holme-Pierrepoint in Nottingham, was competing at her fifth Games having previously represented ParalympicsGB as a swimmer.

Prior to taking up paracanoe, Henshaw had never won Paralympic gold but now has three and won the two in Paris each with a teammate behind her.

Hope Gordon claimed her first medal also in her second Paralympic sport, with silver in the VL3 having switched from cross-country skiing.

Henshaw added: “I was a one eventer, I only did 200m breaststroke when I was a swimmer and so I was always ready and prepared for one race.

“So to come into a Games knowing that I’ve got a busier schedule, really tight we were preparing for that for more than just this year.

“It’s been really special to give myself two gos of it and to know that the dream would’ve been to stand on the tops of the podium for both of them and just can’t believe that that’s what’s happening.

“If you had told me when I moved over to this sport, that it would be my route to Paralympic gold.

“I started this sport because I wanted a new challenge and I didn’t know where that would lead me.

“But I’m so grateful that I found a second sport that I love and just continue to keep getting better.”

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