KIMBERLEY Woods is targeting gold at the upcoming ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships on home water at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.
The GB canoeist, from Rugby, already has nine World Championship medals to her name and has three chances to add to that haul in the women’s C1, K1 and kayak cross events.
And the Tokyo 2020 Olympian is confident she can bring home a medal despite the added pressure of Paris 2024 qualification places being up for grabs.
Woods said: “I would be completely lost for words [to win a medal], I’ll feel immensely proud to do it in front of my family and a home crowd.
“I’ve got high hopes and I’m feeling confident, it’ll be amazing if I come away with a medal.
“I go into every race to try and win it, I’ll be disappointed if I don’t come home with a gold medal. I’ll be chuffed with any medal but I’m out there to get those golds.
“The schedule is more mentally draining than anything else, it’s making sure I take care of the basics, recovering, eating and sleeping well and being on top of my game.”
The Rugby canoeist recently won silver and bronze representing Great Britain at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in La Seu, Spain.
And Woods hopes her success in Spain is a sign of things to come as she looks forward to competing at a home World Championships.
Woods added: “Getting any medal is a great achievement, to have won the 60th medal in my career is an amazing achievement, I’m absolutely buzzing.
“To be on the podium twice in one weekend is special, my C1 medal is the first I’ve had in four years, I’m feeling really good after that.
“It gives me confidence but I’m not taking it for granted, it is a home World Championships, it’s a big event and Paris 2024 qualifier.
“It’s going to be huge, it’s a long week of racing but many opportunities to go out there and showcase my skills on a home course, I’m really looking forward to it.”
The ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships take place from September 19 to 24 at the Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire.
