Joe Clarke challenges Czech paddler Jiří Prskavec

Olympic champion Joe Clarke laid down the gauntlet to his gold medal successor Jiří Prskavec, insisting he is back to full fitness and ready to knock the Czech paddler off his perch. The Stafford & Stone star picked up K1 gold at Rio 2016 but did not defend his title before suffering a shoulder injury in 2019 and a wrist injury at the start of January. Ad/> In Clarke's absence, Prskavec has reigned supreme, winning Olympic and European gold.

The Brit wants his scalp, particularly at July’s World Championships in Munich. /> CanoeingLegends Live On: 'I felt unbeatable' — Three-time Olympic champion Tony Estanguet16/09/2021 AT 07:49 «Jiří is the one to beat, he is the one leading our sport at the moment, but 100% I can beat him,» said Clarke. «In 2019, we were neck and neck, and then when I was putting down my best performances, he'd openly admit that he didn't think he could beat me because I was at my best.

»I have had some ups and downs since then, and he has obviously kept on doing what he is doing, so it will be interesting to see this season when I get back to my best where we are at. «I think there are weaknesses in his game that are strengths in mine and vice-versa, so we have completely different styles in a lot of ways, but it depends on the course. »It's not a grudge match.