You do not cross Finn Butcher.
It is not that he has a particularly intimidating presence - he is actually a remarkable genial chap from Central Otago - but put him in the wildest water event at the Olympic Games, and he takes no prisoners.
Butcher won his heat in the new kayak-cross discipline in Paris yesterday.
He and teammate Luuka Jones will both line up in the quarterfinals of the event after results overnight.
Butcher, who reached the K1 semifinals of the more traditional canoe slalom event, dropped into the water yesterday alongside Swiss paddler Martin Dougoud and Moroccan paddler Mathis Soudi.
The 29-year-old New Zealander powered his way in front within seconds and quickly built a lead of about a boat length.
As well as paddling, navigating gates and keeping their rivals at bay, paddlers must do a rollover - literally flipping the boat over and submerging themselves under the water - at a certain point.
Butcher did everything well and was never in doubt of being caught.
"Got the job done", a focused Butcher told Sky Sport after the race.
"The two guys I was with are so good. It was a hard one to start off with.
"I was just pretty focused on landing on the ramp, getting good intent on those first strokes and sending it."
Butcher was in a second, four-man heat overnight, needing to place in the top two to qualify.
Quarterfinals, semifinals and finals are tomorrow morning (New Zealand time).
Butcher was the 2021 world championship silver medallist in the kayak cross discipline.
Luuka Jones finished second in her heat yesterday.
