When asked to reflect on his Olympic triumph, it took Nicolas Gestin only a few seconds to turn his focus from the past to the future.
While his victory in front of a passionate French crowd in Paris will remain his greatest day in a canoe, Gestin does not want to rest on his laurels.
In a month’s time, Paris will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Olympic Games.
It’s a moment in time that will be fondly remembered by many of those that were involved in the sporting spectacle.
For Gestin, it was the Games where he achieved his dreams.
The 25-year-old produced the performance of his life to capture Olympic gold with victory in the men’s C1 final.
He is now the third Frenchman in history to claim that title, following in the footsteps of Deni Gargaud Chanut and three-time winner Tony Estanguet.
But Gestin is now determined to build on that memorable victory as he looks to achieve more in the sport.
“I had the chance to live out the race of my life in Paris,” said Gestin.
“Now I have to leave it as a memory, take what I did great, and I have to push for the future.”
Gestin’s goal this season is to clinch his first individual world crown later this year.
He has secured two world titles in the C1 team event and a silver in the individual, but he wants gold in Penrith.
“I would like to have the title as world champion,” said Gestin.
“It’s a big objective for me this year and I am happy to have more months to train.
“My preparation was a bit short after the Olympics. I had a big break.
“I was trying to come back to training in November but it was really hard so I go back to train in February.
“I am happy to have two or three months now to train for the World Championships in Australia.”
Gestin says life has changed since becoming Olympic champion but insists paddling remains his focus.
“I feel more professional now than before and I have to do more things than I did before,” said Gestin.
“But I try to keep the same mindset and just enjoy the water.
“I feel like I have the best years of my life are ahead of me as athlete now, so I have got to enjoy it.”
Gestin is showing signs that he is getting stronger as the season goes on. A European silver in Paris was followed by a World Cup bronze in La Seu before leading striking gold in Prague.
It was Gestin’s first gold on the international stage since the Olympic Games in Paris.
Such is the strength in depth in C1 in his country, Gestin lead a French one-two-three in Prague as Mewen Debliquy and Yohann Senechault joined him on the podium.
“It feels so good to be with them on the podium,” said Gestin.
“They are not just my competitors, they are my friends, and I feel like the way we train we respect everyone a lot.
“To put a good run down like this feels like we have created a really good memory for the rest of our lives.
“When I saw Yohann and Mewen in the final, I was already thinking we could make the podium together.
“There are many good paddlers, but I felt we had a chance to be on the top.
“To think it is one thing but to do it is another.”
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