Rio was always the main target but it doesn't mean Luuka Jones wasn't hurting after her disappointing paddle in the K1 canoe slalom seminfinal this morning (NZT).
The 23-year-old clipped one gate with her paddle, touched another with her helmet and also failed to find the necessary speed to progress in the event. At the conclusion of her run she immediately shook her head and uttered "damn''.
The Tauranga paddler knew it was a missed opportunity. She had started the day hoping to qualify for the final and then go all out to see what she could achieve.
"I didn't really represent myself very well,'' she said. "I'm a lot better paddler than that. It wasn't smooth and I didn't feel very good out there I didn't feel it out there today.
"I was quite optimistic of making the final. I have improved a lot over the last two years and I really like this course but things didn't really come together.
