Luuka Jones of New Zealand in action. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand white water paddler Luuka Jones admits to some mixed emotions after her World Canoe Slalom Championship campaign in London.
Jones finished ninth in the K1 competition and in doing so qualified New Zealand a spot in the event at next year's Paris Olympics.
The top 15 nations from the K1 are in line to be awarded places at the Olympics with the International Canoe Federation to officially confirm the quota spots in the next ten days.
However, Jones says it was a week of highs and lows with some inconsistenacies in her campaign.
She was the 21st of 30 paddlers to move on from the qualifying round.
"I didn't have the best qualification runs, however I managed to turn it around in the semi-finals," she told RNZ.
Jones, the 2016 Rio Olympic silver medalist, finished third in the semi-finals behind defending champion Jessica Fox of Australia and Olympic champion Ricarda Funk of Germany.
"It was my best run of the year."
However, the highs and lows continued in the final.
"I gave it everything and was fast at the top, but started to make mistakes and ended up ninth.
"It was disappointing not to do the same run in the final but there are some good things to take away."
She was happy to qualify New Zealand a spot at the 2024 Olympics and can take plenty of positives especially after missing the entire 2022 season with long Covid.
"I was really proud to get back to a high level after a couple of crazy years and setbacks and to be in the final at the world champs.
"Also very special to potentially qualify for my 5th games."
Jones now heads to the Olympic course just outside of Paris for a training camp.
She'll compete in a World Cup event there next month before returning home.
- RNZ