Franklin claims three medals at European slalom championships
British paddler Mallory Franklin won gold, silver and bronze at the European Slalom Championships in Ivrea, marking her comeback since giving birth. Great Britain also celebrated several other podium finishes.
British canoe slalom paddler Mallory Franklin confirmed her return to top-level competition by collecting three medals at the European Championships in Ivrea, Italy.
The 32-year-old produced a penalty-free run of 100.47 seconds in the C1 event, beating France's Doriane Delassus by just 0.03 seconds to claim her third career European title in the discipline. It marked her first individual medal since becoming a mother.
Franklin had opened the championships with a bronze medal in the team event. She described the year as a difficult one in her comeback but said finishing on a high note felt rewarding.
On the final day, Franklin added to her medal haul, fighting through the kayak cross knockout rounds under floodlights to take silver behind the Czech Republic's Tereza Kneblova.
More British success
Two-time Olympic medallist Kimberley Woods won individual kayak cross gold, topping the morning time trial in 48.02 seconds ahead of Poland's Klaudia Zwolinska.
In the men's K1 team event, Ben Haylett, Sam Leaver and Joe Clarke took bronze, matching the bronze earlier won by Woods, Franklin and Ellis Miller in the women's C1 team event.
In the men's kayak final, Clarke and Leaver missed the podium, finishing fifth and sixth respectively behind Czech winner Jakub Krejci.
