Öhrström far behind – now awaiting new Olympic event

The 33-year-old finished ninth in the semifinal in canoe slalom. A placement that was enough to reach the final.

But the final was a much more disappointing story. Öhrström started as number four and when he crossed the finish line, he had the worst time. Later, he was also penalized with a 52-second time penalty, which meant that he finished last in the final, almost a minute behind the winner.

When Öhrström summarizes his final, he says:

It was clearly fantastic to be on the starting line with this crowd and atmosphere. It was really fun.

"Had a pretty okay start"

He continues:

Then I should clearly have gotten a better run. I had a pretty okay start but messed up a bit in the first really tough combination.

Italian Giovanni de Gennaro won the gold medal ahead of Titouan Castryck, France, and Pau Echaniz, Spain.

But the Olympic Games are not over for Öhrström. On Friday, kayak cross awaits. What does he think about his chances there?

The results this season have been pretty similar (canoe slalom and kayak cross), so I think I have pretty okay chances. I'm not the favorite, but one of those who can surprise, says Öhrström.

"Plastic and carbon fiber flying everywhere"

Kayak cross debuts as an Olympic event this year. Öhrström told us earlier what it entails:

We start on a ramp that's about three meters above the water and then we're tipped down into the water. Then we have a bunch of gates that we need to navigate and fight our way down the rapid. The first one down wins. But it's tough, there's a lot of close contact, a lot of plastic and carbon fiber flying everywhere.

He says he's nervous at the start.