Laura Sugar sets Paralympic record to defend women’s para-canoe KL3 title at Paris 2024

Laura Sugar set a new Paralympic record as she successfully defended her women’s para-canoe KL3 title at the Paris Games on Sunday (September 8).

The 33-year-old paddler, from Berden, made it back-to-back titles as she claimed Great Britain’s 49th and final gold medal of the event in France.

Sugar, who was born with a club foot, clocked 46.66sec to finish 1.25 ahead of runner-up and home favourite Nelia Barbosa.

The former student of Newport Free Grammar School - now Joyce Frankland Academy - had to work hard to get in front of her rival in windy conditions.

But there was no stopping Sugar once she took the lead as she added another gold medal to the one she claimed at Tokyo 2020.

“It won’t sink in for a little while as you are so focused on the race, but I’m really proud,” said Sugar, who began competing in para-canoe in 2018 after switching from athletics.

“I just had to back myself in the first half to keep the boat moving. The second half got a bit windy, but I had to use my experience and almost not try too hard.”

Sugar competed at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio on the track, coming fifth in both the T44 100m and 200m finals.

She also played hockey before getting involved in Paralympic sport and represented Wales.