London was literally on the horizon when the Australian canoe/kayak slalom team raced at the 2012 Olympic course over the weekend. Paddling with one eye on the test event and another on the Games, the Aussies soaked up as much as they could on a tough Olympic course.

While the highest ranked Australian was Kynan Maley placing eighth in the men’s C1 event (1.6 seconds off the winning time), it was an enlightening week on and off the course for the small Aussie contingent.

“In canoe slalom, every venue is different so the more time you spend training on a particular course, the better,” K1/C1 athlete Kate Lawrence said.

The tough course at Lee Valley White Water Centre was designed by Sydney 2000 Olympic Champion Thomas Schmidt and French world medallist Marianne Agulhon.

The Aussies had five sessions on the water before the race, and will continue to train on it to be fully prepared when Olympic competition begins on day two of the London Games.

“Regardless of the result, it's been great to paddle here and get a feel for the water and for racing on such a tough course. It is very physically and technically demanding, which makes for some exciting racing!” Lawrence said.

Australia had a successful canoe/kayak slalom campaign at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, with Robin Bell winning bronze in the men’s C1. Kate Lawrence’s sister Jacqui won a silver medal, and now Kate looks to carry on that Lawrence tradition.

“This was our first time here, and we only had five training sessions on the water before the race. I felt like I did get used to it in that time, but with more time on the water it will become even more familiar and manageable.”

With less than one year to go until the Games, the Aussies also took some inspiration from a visit to London’s Olympic Stadium. Their next stops will be the World Cup final in Prague (12 – 14 August) and the World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia (7 – 11 September).

Taya Conomos
AOC