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MAIN PHOTO: Sloan MacKenzzie and Katie Vincent won bronze in the C-2, 500 metre at the Paris 2024 Olympics. That shows all the hard work and dedication the two put in paid off, MacKenzie said in an interview with The Laker News. (Vera Buscu photo\/Canoe Kayak Canada FB)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n PARIS, FRANCE:<\/strong> Sloan MacKenzie is still riding on Cloud Nine after capturing an Olympic bronze medal in her first Olympic Games in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MacKenzie, who canoes out of Cheema Aquatic Club in Waverley, and partner Katie Vincent, who is from the Mississauga Canoe Club, finished just .06 seconds shy of Ukraine who came across the line in second to grab the silver medal in the C-2, 500-metres final on Aug. 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was honestly a battle right to the end and it came down to the last stroke between us and Ukraine,\u201d said MacKenzie in an interview on Sunday from Paris. \u201cWe left it all on the course and proud of our performance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n China was way out in front and continued their dominance in the C-2, 500 metres winning gold. The two have not lost a race since before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final was the second race within a couple hours after MacKenzie and Vincent won their semi-final heat as most back home in Waverley and Fall River were just having coffee and breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n [adrotate banner=”169″]<\/p>\n\n\n\n [adrotate banner=”31″]<\/p>\n\n\n\n With China way out front, the battle in the final came down to Ukraine and Canada\u2019s boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Chinese crew has been undefeated since before the Tokyo Olympics so we knew it would be pretty hard to beat them. They paddle so well and are so efficient,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor the Ukraine crew they did amazing, and we just want to congratulate them on their amazing races as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the semifinal and final just hours apart, it meant that the crews in the semi-final strategized a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe went into the semi with a plan to relax a little bit the second half of the race if we could,\u201d said MacKenzie. \u201cWe wanted to conserve as much energy as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think we did a good job and of course the other crews did as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two earned their way into the semi-final after winning their heat race on Tuesday morning with an Olympic Best time of 1:54.16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n [adrotate group=”7″]<\/p>\n\n\n\n [adrotate banner=”92″]<\/p>\n\n\n\n MacKenzie was asked about the support from back home, especially on Friday when there was a viewing party organized by the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic at the Cineplex Dartmouth Crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The group at the theatre and those at Cheema were part of Athlete Moment and got to speak with MacKenzie after the final, and shortly after the medal presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI could honestly feel the support from Halifax and Cape Breton, it was like everyone was there with us,\u201d she said. \u201cWe could not have done any of this without the continued support from our family, friends, coaches, staff and community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone who has been with us along the ways deserves a piece of the medal because truly it takes a village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI saw the videos from Cheema, WJCC, Cape Breton and the theatre and I was so overwhelmed with joy, excitement and proud to have been able to represent of course Canada, but also Nova Scotia and Cheema Aquatic Club.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n VIDEO: Surprise welcome home for MacKenzie<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n