It was a glorious weekend for Laurence Vincent-Lapointe of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec this past weekend at the 2018 World Canoe Sprint Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal. Vincent-Lapointe won two gold medals in events with Olympic status, and showcased her remarkable versatility and endurance in winning the gold medal in the women’s C1 5000 metres as well.
In the women’s C1 200 metres on Saturday, Vincent-Lapointe had a first place time of 45.567 seconds. Olesia Romasenko of Russia won the silver medal with a time of 46.242 seconds. Dorota Borowska of Poland and Alena Nazdrova of Belarus tied for the bronze medal with a time of 46.812 seconds. Vincent-Lapointe reached the podium by 1.405 seconds. Virag Balla of Hungary was in fifth place with a time of 46.972 seconds.
In the women’s C2 500 metres on Sunday, Vincent-Lapointe teamed up with Katie Vincent of Mississauga, Ontario to win the gold medal. Vincent-Lapointe and Vincent had a winning time of 1:56.395. Balla and Kincso Takacs of Hungary won the silver medal with a time of 1:58.632. Nadzeya Makarchanka and Volha Klimava of Belarus won the bronze medal with a time of 2:00.485.
Vincent-Lapointe and Vincent reached the podium by 5.884 seconds over Irina Andreeva and Romasenko of Russia, who had a fourth place time of 2:02.279. Vincent also won a bronze medal in the women’s C1 500 metres, which like the women’s C1 5000 metres, is not an Olympic event.
