Australian paddlers Tom Green and Jean van der Westhuyzen secured a bronze medal in the K2 500m canoe sprint at the Paris Olympics, unable to defend their title from Tokyo due to a change in event format. Despite setting an Olympic record in the semi-final, they finished third in the final, trailing Germany and Hungary by a narrow margin of 0.42 seconds. Green expressed disappointment over their performance, indicating a misstep at the start that hindered their chances for gold. The duo, who relocated from South Africa to Australia to pursue their Olympic dreams, have now completed their medal collection with this bronze, following a silver for van der Westhuyzen's brother in the K4 event. The pair reflected on the significance of winning an Olympic medal despite the outcome, showcasing their determination for future competitions. New Zealand’s Lisa Carrington also made headlines by winning her seventh Olympic gold in the women's K2 500m race.