Canoeing-Czech Fuksa finally lands gold

PARIS : Martin Fuksa arrived in France for his third Olympics with the sole aim of getting the only thing missing from his well-stocked trophy cabinet, an Olympic medal, and after two previous fifth-placed finishes he won the gold on Friday.
The Czech triumphed in the men’s canoe single 500m race in an Olympic record time of 3:43.16, beating Isequias Quieroz of Brazil, who took silver, and Serghei Tarnovichi of Moldova, who picked up bronze. 
“Finally, finally. In Tokyo I was fifth and in Rio I was fifth, and now, finally, an Olympic champion,” Fuksa told reporters.  
“I have so many medals from the European and world championships, and now I finally have an Olympic medal, and it is gold. It is the best medal of all the ones I have,” he added. 
He is not the only member of the Fuksa family to have a slew of canoeing medals. His father Petr, who competed at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, is an 11-times world championship medallist.
After taking up the sport at the age of 14, Martin has 13 of his own and his canoeing career is very much a family affair. 
“It is awesome. My FUKSA team are from a small town in Czechia, and we still train there. We just love this sport. Training every day with my brother, my grandfather and my father is awesome,” Martin said. 
“It is amazing to be the champion. It is not just my medal, but all of my family’s.”
Having waited so long to get that Olympic medal, Fuksa was keen to share the moment with them. 
“I am looking forward to visiting with my wife and my mom and everybody,” he said. “I have only seen my grandfather, father and brother so far, I want to see everyone else from my family, and am looking forward to it.”