The 24-year-old won silver and bronze at the U23 World Championships, but her podium finish in Oklahoma, which saw her finish just 0.12 seconds off gold in 51.17 seconds, represents her best career result to date.

Leaver was left with an agonising wait for confirmation of her medal as Angèle Hug was initially awarded first place, which would have knocked her off the podium, but a penalty for the Frenchwoman saw her retain the bronze medal.

“I’m really pleased with the result today. It was a long wait on the finish line to know what was going to happen. You just never know,” she reflected.

“But I didn’t have many expectations. I just wanted a smooth start to the racing and it was definitely a smooth start.

“I’m just really pleased and excited for the week to come.”

While teammate Kimberley Woods could not squeeze her way onto the podium, her eighth-placed finished was more than enough to finish inside the top 42 athletes who will progress to the kayak cross heats.

Woods finished in 52.75 seconds, while a missed roll by fellow Brit Nikita Setchell proved costly as she finished 26th in 56.5 seconds.

All the British athletes will progress to the kayak cross heats as Sam Leaver and Ben Haylett also secured finishes in the top 42.

Leaver, who won kayak cross individual gold at the 2026 Tacen World Cup, put down a blistering run at the top of the course but a mistake close to the end saw him finish ninth in 47.87 seconds.

Haylett also delivered a strong run to finish 29th in 49.45 seconds.