New Zealand kayaker Aimee Fisher has collected double gold at the under-23 canoe sprint world championships in Romania, taking out the K1 200m and 500m double in a withering display.
It was the first time New Zealand had won gold at the age-group worlds, although Fisher won under-18 bronze in 2013 with Kim Thompson in the K2 500m. It continued a strong season for the Hawke's Bay paddler, who was part of the New Zealand elite women's quartet that bagged a pile of World Cup medals this season.
Fisher powered away to a 40.096s win in the K1 200m, 0.568s faster than Dora Lucz of Hungary, who beat her in a World Cup final this season. Fisher then stormed home in 1min 48.948s to finish more than two seconds ahead of second-placed Australian Alyssa Ball in the K1 500m final.
Fisher used the results as the perfect way to farewell coach Rene Olsen, who has guided her for the last three years with the national K4 squad but is to join the British coaching team.
Fisher, 22, said she'd done her best to enjoy what was a "really stressful" day.
