Canada's Laurence Vincent-Lapointe wins silver in 200m canoe sprint

Laurence Vincent-Lapointe, of Canada, reacts while wearing her silver medal after competing in the canoe sprint women's C-1 200m A finals at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. The 29-year-old paddler from Trois-Rivieres, Que., finished the sprint in a time of 46.786 seconds, behind American Nevin Harrison. (Nathan Denette/CP)

Canada's Laurence Vincent-Lapointe of Trois-Rivières, Que., has won the silver medal in the women's 200-metre canoe sprint race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Vincent-Lapointe, who also holds the world record in this event, finished with a time of 46.786. Nevin Harrison of the United States won the gold with a time of 45.932 while Liudmyla Luzan of Ukraine captured bronze with a time of 47.034.

Vincent-Lapointe, 13-time world champion, has been a high-ranked competitor in canoe racing for years but the 29-year-old had her career turned upside down when she was suspended for a doping violation in 2019. After a gruelling legal process that cost her six months of competition, Vincent-Lapointe was able to clear her name and compete in Tokyo.

"I've learned so much in the last few years about myself and life. I would not be the person or athlete going into this if I had not gone through everything. It's probably better for me because my head is a different space," Vincent-Lapointe said in an interview with the CBC's Devin Heroux.

This is the first time women have competed in canoe events at the Olympic Games. Katharine Vincent of Mississauga, Ont., finished eighth in the A Final.

Vincent-Lapointe and Vincent's Olympic journey is not over yet. The two Canadians will team up for the women's C2 500 race later this week, an event they hold the world record in.

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