Andrew Alderson: Paralympics 2024 - Peter Cowan paddles to va’a VL3 200m bronze medal in Paris

There was a high level of suspense when Peter Cowan crossed the finish line in the final of the men’s single va’a VL3 200m canoe sprint race in Paris. 

In his Paralympic Games debut, the 29-year-old from Hawke’s Bay flew out of the blocks in the final to battle for the early lead. 

As the contest went on, it looked to be a case of two races for medals; Ukrainian Vladyslav Yepifanov and Jack Eyers of Great Britain contesting the top two spots on the podium, while Cowan, Australian Curtis McGrath and China’s Pu Yi were locked in a race for bronze. 

The eight-strong race was over in about 50sec. It was a further 45sec before Cowan got word that he would be the third man on the podium. 

“It feels unreal,” Cowan told TVNZ of winning a medal in his Paralympics debut. 

In tough, windy conditions, the Kiwi stayed the course and might have been a bit fortunate that McGrath drifted in his lane toward the final stretch of the race, with Cowan crossing the line just 0.06sec ahead of the Australian who beat him in their heat. 

Because Cowan finished second in his heat, he had to qualify for the medal race through the semifinal rather than get direct entry into the medal race. 

Cowan finished second to Eyers in the semifinal to secure his place, and left everything out there in the final; a look of elation – with perhaps a hint of disbelief – on his face when he finally heard that he had claimed the bronze. 

“Coming into the race all I really focused on was the performance itself and not jumping the gun,” Cowan said. 

“There were times this week when I would think about the podium, but me and my coach are pretty grounded in our goals and that’s just to focus on every performance as they come; every breath, every stroke in every race. 

“In the start gate, I was just thinking about what I needed to do to build into that finish line because I never know where I’m coming in the races. I do believe the performance will give the right result at the end of the day, so to find out I made the podium, I was mind-blown.” 

Yepifanov won the race with a Paralympic Games best of 47.49sec, with Eyers second in 47.87sec. Cowan finished in 48.28sec. The three medalists were all first-time Paralympians. 

Cowan’s medal took New Zealand’s haul to nine in Paris, with one gold, four silver and four bronze. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Andrew Ellison's head was for good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
Greetings Ryan. Nothing like self praise, no praise, is it?

Speaker 1 (00:04):
You know? Hey the all But can we start with
the All Blacks the lost? Yes? Can? How are we feeling?
And how did you think Razor did with the press afterwards?

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Oh look, I'm always yeah, welcome to Razors generally pre open,
et cetera. I think he's probably feeling some pressure. You know,
seven games in, he's got seven games to go in
his opening season, He's four wins, three losses. I think
that's an all position to be. Although the South African
team is one of the best South African teams. I

(00:33):
think history has seen and see the World champions for
a reason I had, I must I was a bit
nervous earlier in the week, and I thought skeptical because
when you see them relaxing like Russi Arrasthmus did in
the build up, laughing away, et cetera, didn't suggest that
they are under a great deal of pressure. And I
think New Zealand and the All Blacks have a lot

(00:55):
of work to do to earn that parody. They'rere far
away in the eighteen twelve and you have the penalty
from McKenzie, but that's not going to win the game,
given they still scored after that South Africa. But I
think yes, it's it's face shaping up to be a
real challenge for that New Zealand team to go from
there and if they win them letters lay Cup retain

(01:16):
that for another year and then they go on to
succeed on the end of year tour. I think that
will get back some confidence at least for the New
Zealand side, but it'll still be, as they say, the
rock under the beach towel at the end of the season.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
Absolutely the Paralympics overnight we've had bronze from Peter Cowen
and the two hundred meter canoe sprint we.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Have and that's wrapped the campaign for New Zealand. I
think fifty first on the medal table, not that that
really matters a great deal here. I mean star of
the show Anna Grimaldi with the tur and meter victory,
not winning in the I guess favorite event, the long jump,
but going on to deliver and get New Zealand that
gold medal, four silver and four bronze as well to

(01:56):
go with that. I think what I take from those
games I ryan is just some of the moments you
see people the achievement overcoming adversity. For me, I mean,
just you know, a guy holding a table tennis bat
in his in his mouth and and you know, and
actually playing ping pong in that regard. And you know,
a seventeen year old Indian girl with the putting the

(02:17):
arrow into her bow with her foot. I saw that,
you know, holding in her mouth, and I'm thinking, man,
that is just some serious commitment. That's you know, just
perseverance and overcoming adversities. Saying that, those are the stories
that I enjoy about the Paralympic Games.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
The US Men's tennis finals starts, as the US Open
starts in well half an hour, you'll be.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
Able to churn in after your shift, you know, just
Yarleck center up against Taylor Fritz to complete the US
Open campaign for me and for women. But yes, looking
to I guess back up from his Australian Open victory
earlier on the year, Fritz into his first Grand Slam final.
But I think also for Sinner, I mean, obviously he's
been that pressure on him over those are drugs tests

(03:01):
and the failure of those union of course, you got
the dispensation as a result of that, so there's been
pressure on him throughout so whether he can deliver and
then get a second Grand Slay, we'll wait and see.
He's the number one in the world.

Speaker 1 (03:11):
Brilliant. Thank you so much for the Andrew see as always,
Andrew Ortison as zi'd be Sport.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
For more from News Talks d B. Listen live on
air or online, and

Speaker 1 (03:20):
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