Aussie kayak mum Alyce Wood into 2024 Paris Olympics semis at third Games

Alyce Wood is all about precision. Her life, her pregnancy were all timed to ensure she could resume training and make her third Olympic Games. Now she’s in the canoe sprint semi final.

Alyce Wood never expected to be a storyline.

But as she headed towards the start line at her third Olympics the Aussie paddle veteran heard commentators over the loudspeaker discussing her return to the Games arena as a mum after giving birth to daughter Florence in 2022.

For Wood, having her family, including two-year-old Florence and husband Jordan - a two-time paddle Olympian himself - cheering her on from the sidelines still seems surreal.

Wood’s pregnancy and comeback was planned with almost military precision to ensure she could have a child and continue high-performance training with the aim of competing in Paris.

To see it come to fruition in the form of automatic progression to the K1 semi-finals after finishing second in her kayak heat on the Vaires-sur-Marne course was surreal.

Alyce Wood of Team Australia competes during the Women’s Kayak Single 500m Heats at Vaires-Sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. Photo: Getty Images

“God, I never thought I’d be a storyline, that’s for sure,” Wood said after finishing second to Hungary’s Alida Gazso to progress to Saturday’s semi-final and possibly, medal race.

“But to be here and have Florence on the on the sidelines cheering me on is incredibly special.”

While Jordan and Florence joined Wood in Europe for a training camp about a month ago, they parted ways for the final two weeks to allow her to concentrate on preparing for her Games swansong.

Their reunion was heartwarming.

“(On Tuesday) when I was warming up, I didn’t know that they were here and they were on the sidelines, and I heard her say, ‘Go, mummy’,” Wood said.

“And it was so special. She’s got a shirt on with my face on it, and it’s all really, really special. This is the pinnacle of sports, so to be here again is very, very cool.”

Australia's Thomas Green on the way to winning his heat in the men's kayak single 1000m canoe sprint competition at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. Photo: AFP

While the semi-final draws have not yet been completed, Wood will face a top field that includes defending world and Olympic champion Lisa Carrigan, as well as the minor medallists from last year’s world titles.

“It’s so hard (to rate my chances). I think I’m good enough to be in the top five. But once you’re in the final, anything is possible.”

Tom Green also made it through to the men’s K1 semis after a dominant performance in his heat.

While pleased, Green rates the K1 as very much his second event behind the K2 in which he and Jean van der Westhuyzen are genuine gold medal chances on Friday night (AEST).

Originally published as Aussie kayak mum Alyce Wood into 2024 Paris Olympics semis at third Games