Heartbreak on the Water: American Canoeist Nevin Harrison Narrowly Misses Olympic Gold in Thrilling 200m Photo Finish

Harrison has faced numerous challenges since winning in Tokyo, including chronic lower back pain and a hamstring injury.

PARIS, France — American Nevin Harrison came within a photo finish of winning her second straight Olympic gold medal in the women’s canoe sprint 200-meter event on Saturday.

Katie Vincent of Canada edged Harrison out with a world-best time of 44.12 seconds. Harrison’s time was 44.13 seconds — significantly better than the 45.93 she posted when she won the inaugural event in Tokyo at the age of 19.

After crossing the finish line, Harrison refrained from guessing the outcome and chose to wait patiently. When the winner was announced, she was somber but quickly put the moment into perspective.

“I mean, having come off gold from Tokyo into a silver, it’s disappointing in the moment,” Harrison said. “But I think in reflection, it’s nothing but pride and feeling really happy with myself that I went out there and fought as hard as I did.”

Harrison has faced numerous challenges since her victory in Tokyo in 2021. She battled chronic lower back pain and a hamstring injury. Mental health issues, partially due to the pressure of being a gold medalist, nearly derailed her plans and made her question if she’d defend her title.

Despite these challenges, she said any medal would have been a triumph given what she’s had to overcome.

“I think the support system I had around me, my sports psychologist, my coach, my family, my friends — all of them built me back into the person that I am right now,” Harrison said. “And if you would have asked me a year ago today, I would not be standing here.”

Harrison knew she was back in top form when she clocked the fastest qualifying time of 45.70 seconds on Thursday, restoring her confidence that a medal was within reach.

“I think it just sort of reminded me that I am capable of stacking up against these girls when I felt like I wasn’t able to in the last year or two,” she explained. “So it brought me back, I think, into my own confidence a little bit.”

Harrison tore ligaments in her neck right before the Olympics, visible through a lidocaine patch under her medal after the race. She plans to get imaging done upon returning to the United States.

“You always wonder, what if I didn’t hurt myself last week?” Harrison pondered. “What would I have been able to do? But ultimately, you can’t change what’s happened and you really just have to take it day by day. And that’s what I’ve done. And I couldn’t be more proud.”

For Harrison, sharing the moment with family and friends added a layer of joy to her achievement. In Tokyo, the coronavirus pandemic restricted travel, but this time was different.

“I definitely got yelled at by security just now because I went through the gate,” she said. “But giving my mom, my dad, my boyfriend all hugs was so worth it.”