By IANS/RIA Novosti,
London : Emilie Fer of France won the Olympic gold medal in the women’s kayak slalom Thursday.
Fer, a 2006 World Champion, stole the gold from 18-year-old Australian Jessica Fox after completing the course 0.6 seconds faster.
“I have some difficulty realising what has happened. I took some risks because I had nothing to lose and I knew I needed to go fast,” Fer said.
“I’m delighted for France and for myself.”
Fox, whose mother won a bronze in Atlanta in 1996, was ecstatic with second place.
“I’m only 18 and I’ve had such a great season so far and to cap it off with a silver medal at the Olympics is just a dream come true.”
Maialen Chourraut, the 2009 world silver medallist champion from Spain, took the bronze one second off Fer’s time.
“This is the medal that I needed. This is for Spain,” Chourraut said.