Woods can be a part of a Group GB canoeing squad filled with medal potential in Paris, alongside Olympic medallists Joseph Clarke and Mallory Franklin, and Adam Burgess – who missed out on the Tokyo podium by 0.16 seconds.
Regardless of the anticipated chaos, Woods will hope to copy her kayak cross world gold – and also will compete within the ladies’s kayak singles (K1), by which she completed tenth on her Olympic debut three years in the past.
Her breakthrough triumph, achieved in entrance of a house crowd final yr, was an emotional achievement for Woods, who has overcome severe psychological well being points to achieve a second Video games.
Woods, who pursued canoeing from a younger age after watching a video of her aunt – herself a world junior medallist, instructed BBC Sport in 2020 she had overcome melancholy and self-harm, which she linked to being bullied as a baby.
Sport supplied an escape – and it has taken her to the highest of the world.
“It’s one thing that has been a dream since I used to be a junior,” says Woods.
“I positively watch the ultimate again if I am feeling a bit down. It makes me realise how far I’ve come and the way massive that achievement was. I get those self same emotions once more and that may stay recorded on my TV for a few years.”
Woods, who additionally gained the general kayak cross World Cup title final yr, continued her Paris preparations with bronze on the canoe slalom World Cup in Krakow in June.
The kayak cross competitions start in Paris on 3 August at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, with an preliminary time-trial spherical to find out the heats.
With Olympic expertise to name upon and proof she will win main titles, Woods can be prepared as she waits for the gates to open – and the mayhem to begin.
“The assumption was there in Tokyo, however it’s positively there now. It form of scares me slightly bit to suppose what might occur – in a great way,” says Woods.
“There’s that inner stress, understanding I can go on the market and win every race, but it surely’s extra eager to than needing to – I believe there is a massive distinction between these two issues.”
Considering what it will imply to win Olympic gold, Woods provides: “I will be completely distraught. All the things would simply come out. I used to be crying on the high of the rostrum in London after wining the worlds. I am hoping I can be extra composed – however there’ll most likely be some ugly pictures of me crying blissful tears.
“It might be a pleasant second to understand that each one the trouble, tears, harm and ups and downs have been price it.”
