KEY POINTS:
An Olympic medal again slipped through the grasp of New Zealand kayaker Steven Ferguson, who had settle for eighth place in a blanket finish to the K1 500m final here today.
Ferguson was left lamenting a slow start to a race won in stunning fashion by Australian Ken Wallace, who hauled in favourite Adam van Koeverden of Canada over the final 50m.
The strapping New Zealander finished just 0.8 seconds outside the bronze medal, which was claimed by Briton Tim Brabants, the winner of yesterday's K1 1000m final.
While the result was a disappointing one for Ferguson after his powerful semifinal win on Thursday, he preferred to reflect with satisfaction on the progress made at this regatta.
"I was just happy to be in the final, it's a stepping stone for me," he said.
"It's my first performance in a K1 final so I can't complain really, I gave it everything I had."
Ferguson, 28, was a narrow sixth in yesterday's K2 1000m final with Mike Walker and admitted that race had impacted on him.
He lacked explosive power at start, the most critical part of a sprint race.
"I had the edge taken off from yesterday, I didn't quite have the gusto that I wanted from the first few strokes."
He appeared to stay on the pace through the first 100m but faded through the second quarter of the race to be trailing the field.
"I bided my time until halfway, when I kicked. I gave it everything I had and I caught up a fair bit but that last 100m I was starting to get jelly arms again."
He had qualified for the Games through the K2 with Walker so was obliged to contest that event, describing it as a good experience and their sixth placing as "phenomenal".
Ferguson's time today of one minute 38.512 seconds was a good one into a headwind and gave him encouragement that he was on the verge of joining the world's elite on a consistent basis.
He was a boat length behind the hard-charging Wallace, who sent Australian supporters into a frenzy with his finish and delivered another blow to van Koeverden, who slumped to an astonishing eighth in the 1000m final yesterday.
The 2012 London Olympics loom large for Ferguson, who felt his best would come then.
"Four more years to go, we've got some great talent at home," he said.
"There's a lot going to happen over the next four years which I think will be quite exciting with kayaking.
"It was a lot of confidence for me winning the semi... I can go away and train a little bit harder and know what I need to work on to beat these guys."
New Zealand qualified for three kayaking finals, with Ben Fouhy the best performer, placing fourth in the K1 1000m yesterday.
On Thursday rookie women's K1 500m paddler Erin Taylor was eliminated in the semifinals.
- NZPA
- NZPA
