Luuka Jones celebrates after winning the women's finals kayak cross, in Paris, in 2023. Photo: AFP
For her final Olympics, Luuka Jones will start as one of the favourites in a new event, the women's kayak cross in Paris.
The Tauranga paddler is all set for her fifth campaign, moving up alongside the only other Kiwi women to achieve this feat, shot putter Dame Val Adams and board sailor Barbara Kendall.
"To be going to my fifth Olympics is crazy. It's something I never dreamed of as a kid but I'm extremely grateful for the career that I've had and the experiences that I've had," Jones said.
She told the NZ Olympic website: "I just want to turn up to Paris leaving no stone unturned. I've got an amazing support team around me and I'm in a really good position."
Luuka Jones: "To be going to my fifth Olympics is crazy." Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Background:
Born: 18 October 1988 in Tauranga
Attended: Otumoetai College
Took up paddling at 10 when her family moved next door to a kayaking adventure park
Has spent years in UK and Europe competing against the world's best
Interests: all water sports, being in the outdoors
Olympic events: canoe slalom - women's K1 and women's kayak cross
Achievements
- Has been to every Olympics since Beijing in 2008
- Won silver medal in K1 at Rio 2016 Olympics
- Won first world title in kayak cross in Paris in 2023
Two years ago another Games seemed unlikely - all of 2022 was lost as she was hit hard by Long Covid.
She spent months in a hyperbaric chamber and later suffered a neck injury and a string of illnesses that brought her to the brink of quitting.
"There was always that doubt whether I could return to the top of the sport and whether I had more to give mentally and physically," she told Reuters.
It was not until last October that Jones felt fully free of Covid's grip, a month that coincided with her winning the World Cup gold medal in kayak cross at the same Vaires-sur-Marne venue hosting the Olympic canoeing from 27 July.
The event sees four paddlers compete at the same time, starting the race from a ramp above the water.
Athletes are required to perform one Eskimo roll during the race, and it's acceptable for competitors to crash into each other as they jostle for position.
"It's like a demolition derby. It's really physical - you're jostling for position the whole way down the course, there is so much going on and it's really exciting," Jones said.
"We grew up paddling plastic boats and being out on rivers in New Zealand, so we're kind of used to that discipline already."
Luuka Jones competing in the more sedate K1. Photo: Photosport
Jones will also contest the K1, the event she won her silver medal in and to this point the only medal a Kiwi has won in canoe slalom.
The Olympic canoe slalom competition will be held from 27 July to 5 August at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
