Luuka Jones in action Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Former Olympic silver medalist Luuka Jones will line up in her first major competition in almost two years at this weekend's Canoe Slalom World Cup in the Czech Republic.
After missing all of 2022 with long Covid, Jones is making her way back to the top of the sport.
She's been in Europe for the last month preparing for a return to the international stage.
The Rio 2016 silver medalist wants to compete at her fifth Olympics in Paris next year and has set her sights on qualification at this year's World Championsips.
Jones' last major competition was the World Championships in Slovakia in September 2021.
The 34 year old had originally planned to compete at the opening World Cup regatta in Germany last week.
"I missed the first world cup in Augsburg as we had a big training camp in London before the race.
"The London venue is where the World Champs and Olympic qualifying will be held in September and I wanted to make the most of that camp and to have a better build up to Prague this week."
After being laid low for most of 2022, Jones returned to training in November and managed to compete in a couple of races in New Zealand and Australia.
However it hasn't been all plain paddling... she battled neck and back injuries, a kidney infection and Covid for a second time.
She admits she's training a lot smarter now.
"I was curious as to how I would hold up when I got to Europe and increased my white water training volume.
"So far I am doing really well."
Jones says her training in both London and Prague has gone very well and is excited to see where she's at this weekend.
"I believe that if I put some good race runs together I will be very competitive with the top of the field.
"It will be really nice to get out there and race again as it feels like it has been a while.
"It will be an opportunity to test my race processes and see if I have prepared well enough mentally."
The woman Jones finished behind in Rio, Maialen Chourraut of Spain is also making her first appearance of the season this weekend.
Besides the K1 event, Jones will also race the new extreme slalom competition this year.
It involves four paddlers racing down the white-water at the same time.