Sport

Ireland’s Liam Jegou wins heat at Canoe Slalom Under-23 World Championships

Jegou came down course in fastest heat time of 101.66 seconds in Sydney

Ireland canoeist Liam Jegou: finishing 0.97 seconds ahead of British paddler Samuel Ibbotson.
Ireland canoeist Liam Jegou: finishing 0.97 seconds ahead of British paddler Samuel Ibbotson.
Thu Apr 24 2014 - 16:42

Ireland’s Liam Jegou won his heat of the junior C1 at the Canoe Slalom Under-23 and Junior World Championships in Sydney yesterday.

Jegou came down the course in the fastest heat time of 101.66 seconds, finishing 0.97 seconds ahead of British paddler Samuel Ibbotson. In the C1 the competitor kneels in the boat with one paddle.

Jegou, whose mother is from Ballyvaughan in Co Clare, lived in Ireland until he was seven. His father, Marc, then got a job in his native France and moved the family there. Liam Jegou has been in the Ireland system since 2010 and has already competed as a senior and is ranked in the top 100 in the world. He finished fourth in the Junior World Championships in 2012 and sixth last year.

Penrith Whitewater Stadium was the venue for the canoe/kayak slalom competition at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and has subsequently been host to many major international events.