CANOE/KAYAK SLALOM: A stalwart of Australia’s canoe slalom fraternity, Warwick Draper is hoping London will be a case of third time lucky as he pushes for a podium finish at this third Olympic appearance. 

But he isn’t leaving anything to luck.

After missing a medal by the narrowest margin and finishing fifth in Beijing, Draper is determined this will be his Games and he has done everything in his power to make that happen.

“Winning a medal is certainly the plan,” 35-year-old Draper said. “I’ll be racing for that.” 

Draper will take to the Lee Valley white water tomorrow, contesting two qualification runs of the K1 event, of which the best time advances athletes to the semi-finals.

“The way you take the campaign is that you’ve got to get into the final first and into the top ten,” the Victorian paddler explained. “Qualification is all about being solid, getting into the semis...and then putting in a strong semi-final run to get into the top 10. From there I’ll be putting everything in that to get to the podium.”

There is no doubt that Draper is a talented athlete capable of a medal, but in a field that includes the 2012 Beijing Olympic Games bronze medallist Benjamin Boukpeti and 2011 world champion Peter Kauzer, he is going to have his work cut out for him.

So what will give this deserving Aussie the winning edge?

Draper will battle the London rapids in a modified version of his 2008 kayak – one of the key differences being a series of four carbon fibre fins attached to the bottom of the boat. A qualified engineer, Draper has been building his own kayaks since 2005 and enjoyed great success competing in his own handywork, but he believes this modification is the best he has made to date.

“When I first tried it out, I just couldn’t believe how it felt,” Draper said.  

After tireless hours of work, the fins are in place, complete with green and gold Southern Cross stickers – and Draper is ready to race. 

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’ve had really good prep the last few months. The course is really good. It’s quite big white water – similar to last Games in terms of difficulty level. It’s going to take focus all the way down the course and a really good strong lift at the bottom – that’s what’s going to make the difference on this course.”

Tackling the same course on the first day of racing will be Draper’s teammate Kynan Maley, competing in the single canoe.

“I’m nervous as hell!” Maley said. “I get nervous but everyone does – everyone is going to have some nerves out there so I’m just working hard to make sure I control them well and use them to my advantage. You want it to feel like a big occasion – not like a club race.”

Alice Wheeler in London

olympics.com.au