Adam Burgess Wins Silver in Men’s Canoe Singles at Paris 2024 Olympics

Great Britain's Adam Burgess has secured his first Olympic medal, claiming silver in the men’s canoe singles final at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Paris. This achievement marks a significant milestone in Burgess's career, highlighting his determination and skill on the global stage.

At 32 years old, Burgess delivered an outstanding performance, clocking a time of 96.84 seconds. He qualified as the fourth-fastest from the semi-finals and impressed in the final with a near-flawless run, marred only by a minor error on upstream gate 17. Despite this, Burgess set the fastest run of the final with three competitors remaining.

Adam Burgess

The 32-year-old qualified fourth fastest with a clean semi-final performance and produced another impressive run in the final to win his first Olympic medal.

Burgess clocked a time of 96.84 seconds, only eclipsed by France’s Nicolas Gestin who crossed the line 5.48 seconds faster to win gold.

Slovakia’s Matej Benus clinched bronze while reigning world champion Benjamin Savsek received a damaging 50-second penalty to finish 11th.

Burgess missed out on the podium by an agonising 0.16 seconds at the delayed Tokyo Games and once again fell just short of a global podium when he finished fifth at last year’s World Championships.

Since then he has been an advocate of yoga and breathwork as part of his training. He named his build-up to the Games ‘Project Send It’ - determined to finish the final with no regrets following his near-miss three years ago.

Burgess was visibly stunned after completing his run but knew he was guaranteed a medal when Germany's Sideris Tasiadis failed to better his time.

Burgess’s final run was punctuated by his resolve to make the most of his opportunity after narrowly missing the podium at the Tokyo 2020 Games and finishing fifth at the 2023 World Championships. His rigorous preparation, including yoga and breathwork, paid off in Paris.

With the gold medal position initially within reach, Burgess was eventually surpassed by France’s Nicolas Gestin, who won gold with a blistering time of 91.36 seconds, 5.48 seconds faster than Burgess. Slovakia’s Matej Benus rounded out the podium with a bronze medal.

Burgess was visibly emotional upon realizing his guaranteed silver medal after Germany’s Sideris Tasiadis failed to improve on his time. Tasiadis, who had previously edged Burgess out for bronze in Tokyo, finished fourth in Paris.

Burgess's silver medal is not only a personal triumph but also a testament to his resilience and dedication. His journey to this point involved a rigorous training regimen and a focus on overcoming past disappointments.

As Great Britain’s fifth medal of the day, Burgess’s achievement follows Kimberley Woods’s bronze in the kayak single (K1) event, adding to the country’s success in canoeing at the Paris Olympics.

Adam Burgess’s Olympic silver medal is a significant accomplishment that underscores his exceptional talent and perseverance. As he continues to build on this success, his performance in Paris serves as a powerful reminder of the dedication required to excel on the world stage.