Hartley secures Rio Olympic berth

London Olympic Games bronze medallist Bridgitte Hartley has confirmed her place in the women’s kayak field at the next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Zululand’s golden girl received the news at the weekend from the International Canoe Federation (ICF) following the World Championships in Milan that determined the allocation of places for the male and female kayak and canoe athletes.

‘The wait has been so long and I feel really excited knowing that it is finally official,’ said Hartley as she packed her bags to join the South African team at the World Marathon Championships in Hungary this weekend

Hartley had something of an agonising wait until the ICF rubber-stamped her place for the Rio showcase, after ending up in the B finals of the women’s 500m K1 after being knocked out of the A finals by Hungary’s Anna Karasz and China’s Yu Zhou.

But she went on to convincingly win her final in a time that would have seen her finish in the top six of the A final.

Hartley admitted that the two-week waiting period between the World Championships and the final ICF announcement had been emotional.

‘I enjoyed experiencing the joy of the medalists and my friends who have (automatically) qualified a spot for the Rio Olympics,’ she said.

Hartley showed her excellent form by winning the new Marathon World Cup short course event in Brandenberg, Germany a few weeks ago, following her victory in the SA Marathon Championships and selection for the national team to the longer form of the sport.