Four days ago, he wasn’t very good at talking. Slovak water slalom skier Jakub Grigar passed through the mixed zone in a sad mood and mourned. A single mistake cost him victory in kayaking at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. In the end, with a loss of 1.99 seconds, he finished sixth.
Photo: John Walton / PA Images / Profimedia
Jakub Grigar was obviously satisfied with the 6th place in the new Olympic discipline, kayak cross country.
He achieved exactly the same position in today’s kayak cross. And he was smiling from ear to ear. “I gave my best and even with a bit of luck it’s sixth place. I am delighted.”
Is it true that sixth place is not like sixth place?
They are two different stories. I made a mistake in the slalom, which may have cost me a gold or a medal. Now that’s a surprise. It was obvious that I lacked experience and I am still just learning kayak cross. I’m glad it turned out this way.
Was it a fun kayak cross-country lesson under five circles?
Yes. On the one hand, it’s fun, and it’s action-packed from start to finish. However, on the other hand, it was also a painful lesson. Contact is essential. From the beginning, someone hits you on the ribs, elbows, shoulders, head. I can’t wait to get to the dressing room and put on some cool towels. I can’t say which part of my body hurts the most.
How long did the disappointment of sixth place in kayak last?
That was the advantage of the kayak cross, because I started on the first day. I didn’t have time to think about the spilled milk and the mistake in the final. I concentrated on quality performances in cross country. It helped me get through the pain.
After the first starts of this discipline at top events, you said that you have a problem with it precisely from this point of view, that you can hurt a friend. Did your opinion change after the Olympic debut of kayak cross country?
It was through experience that I understood that it is not an attack on another. When we reach the finish line, we hold hands and squeeze each other, although we may hurt each other on the track. There are even people who apologize even if they don’t do anything, like bronze medalist Noah Hegge of Germany. For guys who are not into contacts, it is difficult. You have to learn to succeed.
How would you rate your rides in the quarter finals, semi finals and mini finals?
I rode with Joe Clark and you could tell he had significantly more mileage. He trains three or four times a week. He has a system before driving and knows what to do. I’m just learning. I can keep up with him on the flat, but experience is what separates the phenomenal kayak cross racers from me.
Before the opening goal, it was very close to squeeze to the edge of the channel…
It is built on the left side. It is difficult for four ships to get there. That’s why guys from the right push others. I don’t have the technique yet to fight them off and react to attacks. I will download all the rides, we will watch them with the coach and analyze them. May I be able to improve in the future and one day maybe bring home to Slovakia an Olympic medal from the kayak cross country. I gave my best today. Even with a bit of luck, it’s sixth place, which I’m happy about.
Before the start, you made various grimaces. Did you enjoy it?
It was interesting. The spectators were great, the stands were full from the initial elimination rounds. Then that energy will be transferred to us. Slalom is very detailed. You have to think about every single wave and go to the millimeter. In cross country, you don’t know what you’re getting into until you’re there. You jump off the ramp, lactate sprays out of your ears, and then you wait to see what happens.
Sports are fighting for their place in the Olympics. Can a spectator-friendly kayak cross help you stay in this elite company?
Looking far into the future, kayak cross will be completely separated from water slalom. It’s a different sport, it has different parameters. I expect selection for cross-country and slalom specialists.
Is it extra motivation to focus on cross country in your training?
The potential for success is there. I’m a more physical rider. I keep up on the level. We should pay more attention to it. However, my Olympic story was not easy, because due to an injured shoulder, I focused exclusively on slalom. That’s why we didn’t have so much time or energy for cross country. And another thing is that we don’t have a system for joint training in Slovakia. There you learn defense and attack and experience hard blows. It is essential that we are not surprised when we come to a World Cup race and Joe Clarke is punching us in the ribs.
What do you take away from Paris?
I would take it positively. I have nice experiences and a good feeling about the work done. Also a lesson that the water is not always on the athlete’s side. Sometimes you have to use your biceps to skip difficult passages. I leave home with a good feeling and not only with negative thoughts after the slalom.
Slovakia extended the medal series in water slalom. How would you evaluate your performance at the Paris Olympics?
The third place of Maťa Beňuš should be highlighted. Slovak water slalom has not yet left the Olympics without a valuable metal, and that is amazing. However, we have to look at it somewhat negatively. I could have had a better result in the kayak. Also, Eliška Mintálová could have been higher than the ninth place. Zuzka Paňková did not miss much in C1 for a medal. Although these are good results, we probably lacked a bit of sporting luck and would have gone higher. We showed ourselves at the highest level. Our performances were marred by minor mistakes, which can be eliminated. We have to sit down to it. If everything goes as I have, I’m not worried about the future. We will fight again for quality results.
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
