Charlotte Henshaw wins 12th Para-canoe World Championship title after cellulitis hospitalization

Britain's Charlotte Henshaw has won her 12th Para-canoe World Championship title - less than two weeks after being in hospital with cellulitis.

The 39-year-old contracted the condition - usually a bacterial infection which makes the skin painful, hot and swollen - in her leg and, after leaving hospital, was unable to train on the water in the lead up to the championships in Poznan, Poland.

But in Saturday's KL2 200m final she crossed the finish line more than three seconds ahead of the rest of the field for her eighth world title in the event, adding to the four she has won in the VL3 equivalent.

"Of all the titles I've managed to win, that probably means the most because I did not know I was going to be here a week ago," she said.

"There's maybe something to be said for taking the pressure off and going out and trusting my body and my experience.

"I've been competing at the highest level for an awfully long time and in moments where things aren't going well and the preparation gets swept out from underneath you, you have to draw on every single bit of experience.

"Eleven days ago, I didn't think I would be on the plane so to come here and compete and then retain my title, I couldn't be happier and it means a lot this one."

A double leg amputee, Henshaw is a three-time Paralympic champion in Para-canoeing since switching from swimming in 2017.

Writing on Instagram, external after her heat on Friday, Henshaw said: "The last week or so has definitely put things into perspective.

"It's so easy to get caught up in results, rankings, times and expectations, but when your long-term limb health becomes the priority, those things seem a lot less important."

Elsewhere in Poznan on Saturday, Henshaw's team-mate Hope Gordon won gold in the KL3 200m while Stuart Wood won bronze in the men's VL3 event.

For Gordon, who last month represented Scotland in Para-powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games, it is a first KL3 world title - having previously won two in the VL3.