OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Evi Leibfaas' first Olympic appearance didn't go as expected.
Just 17 when she competed in Tokyo, she said she felt the pressure after finishing 12th in the kayak slalom and 18th in the canoe slalom.
The 20-year-old American qualified again in canoe slalom and kayak slalom and will also compete in kayak cross, becoming the first American woman to qualify in three Olympic whitewater events.
She believes the lessons learned in Tokyo have helped her prepare for the Paris Games.
“I'm really proud of my training over the last few years and I feel like I've done everything I can to prepare myself physically and mentally for these Olympics,” she said. “I'm in a much better frame of mind going into the competition than I've ever been before, so I'm excited to see where it takes me.”
Evi's father and coach, Lee Leibfurth, believes his daughter is ready to handle the pressures and turmoil that come with the Olympics: He says Evi is enjoying competing more than ever, which is helping her improve.
“It's amazing to see how much my daughter loves the sport. It's something we have in common,” he said. “It's really wonderful to share that passion and be able to experience it with my daughter. As a father and as a coach, I'm excited for her to be going to her second Olympics and competing at that level.”
Evi could perform well in Paris. At the 2021 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Slovakia, he won a bronze medal in kayak cross. At the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Great Britain, he finished 7th in canoe slalom and 12th in kayak slalom. Qualified for the U.S. Olympic Games this year.
Leibfahrt got to see Olympic champions up close in Tokyo: She was roommates with gold medalist Nevin Harrison in the 200-meter canoe sprint.
“She's in the gym every day, lifting super heavy weights and really pushing herself to the limit on the water,” Evie Leibfurth said, “so to see her do it and do it with a smile on her face is just amazing.”
This year, Kayakcross was added to the Olympic calendar, so Liebvaard has an even bigger chance this time around. Four competitors slide down a slope and navigate an obstacle course. They can challenge each other with their paddles, and before crossing the finish line, they must do an Eskimo roll, which means spinning 360 degrees in the water and landing straight down.
Evi said that the unpredictability is what makes kayakcross fun.
“(Usually) everything is planned out perfectly, but in kayakcross, it's all meaningless,” she said. “You don't know what the other girl is going to do, what gate she's going to go to. There are all these if/then situations and strategy sessions, but it all comes down to split-second decision-making. It's, you know, definitely a new skill to learn.”
Evi said she will try not to put unnecessary pressure on herself for not making the most of her Tokyo experience.
“Honestly, I don't think about my chances because I think anything can happen in slalom, and that's what's really amazing,” she said. “Anyone who goes to the Olympics can win a medal, or you can make a big mistake in the final and lose. That's part of the sport.”
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AP Olympics https://apnews.com/hub/2024-Paris-Olympics
