Australia has secured three Olympic quotas at Sydney International Regatta Centre, while WAIS star Alana Nicholls becomes the first Australian to gain Olympic nomination.

2011 World Cup gold medallist Alana Nicholls backed up from Thursday's triumph in the first women’s K1 200 Olympic nomination trial, with a second place finish in Friday's K1 200 event behind New Zealand world champion Lisa Carrington, to finish the highest placed Australian in the second selection event, making it two from two and meeting the criteria for Olympic nomination.

Earlier in the day QAS paddler Bernadette Wallace secured Australia the women’s K1 200 quota with a 4th place finish behind Carrington who had already secured New Zealand a quota at last year’s World Championships in Szeged, Hungary.

An emotional Nicholls was pleased with her performance, but was still focused on the job at hand with her K1 500 event on Saturday.

“It’s everything I’ve ever dreamt of.”

“You come into these regattas and it’s so nerve-wracking. You put everything on hold and your life has to really stop so you can give it everything so when you’re on the start line all of that plays with your head so it was just good to get out there, have a good race and get it done the quickest way possible.”

“While I am excited, my subconscious must not be letting me get too excited because I’ve still got things to think about and a big race tomorrow.”

Nicholls took a break from competition in 2010 before producing a breakthrough year in 2011 and has carried that form into 2012 and credits the year away from the sport as having a big bearing on her development as a paddler.

“I definitely think it had a huge impact on my career, in a positive way. I was so naive coming into the sport in 2008 and found it difficult physically and mentally to adjust from a sport like surf life saving.”

“The break gave me time to mentally recharge and think about what I wanted to be doing. I'm glad I did it and happy I made the decision to try again.”

Gold Coast’s Joel Simpson has kept his Olympic dream alive with victory in the men’s K1 200 final, the second Olympic nomination trial the first trial was won by Manly Warringah paddler Murray Stewart.

In a tight affair Simpson edged fellow QAS paddler Matt Urquhart by 0.08 seconds, with Stewart finishing third 0.02 seconds further adrift in a scintillating spectacle.

“I was a little bit nervous before the race and I’m obviously pretty happy that I ended up winning,” Simpson said.

“Obviously Matt’s paddling unbelievably well and Murray as well, so it was a pretty tight finish.”

“I was pretty lucky to win I suppose.”

Earlier in the day Simpson secured Australia the men’s K1 200 quota after victory in the first heat of with the 25-year-old finishing well clear of Cook Island’s Josh Utanga and Athens silver medallist Ben Fouhy of New Zealand, who finished 3rd and 4th respectively.

Australia secured a third Olympic quota in the men’s C1 200 after Sebastian Marczak was too good in his heat cruising to victory ahead of Samoa’s Thomas Duffie and Cook Islands Rudolf Williams. 

The 29-year-old then went on to win the final, powering out of the start gates to cross the finish line in 43.45, 1.71 seconds clear of 17-year-old Alex Haas, with fellow Brothers’ paddler Michael Beaver finishing third.

The 2011 women’s World Championships K4 500 crew of Rachel Lovell, Hannah Davis, Jo Brigden-Jones and Lyndsie Fogarty showed their class in Friday’s final winning gold in an impressive time of 1:37.31, showing that their preparations are right on track for London later this year, where they will be looking at improving on their 5th place finish in Szeged last year.

In the men’s K4 1000, Ken Wallace replaced David Smith in last year’s silver medal winning World Championship crew following Smith’s absence due to health reasons, but that didn’t stop the inevitable happening, with Wallace combining with Tate Smith, Jacob Clear and Murray Stewart for victory. 

The victors crossed the line in 2:59.40, 1.71 seconds clear of the WAIS quad featuring Brodie Holmes, Reece Baker, Brendon Sarson and Daniel Bowker, with West Lakes’ paddlers Laurence Fletcher and Callum Dunn combining with Zac Ryan and Luke Haniford for third.

Saturday will see the men’s and women’s K1 1000m and 500m events contested, with the men’s K1 1000 event making fans salivate, with the prospect of a Ken Wallace, Murray Stewart and Clint Robinson showdown in the final, the first Olympic nomination trial.

Wallace has been happy with his preparation.

“I have been really pleased with the way that I have been training, my times have been fantastic, it is just a matter of putting it all together on the day.”

After going down to Stewart at the Paddle NSW sprint Championships earlier in the year, Wallace will be looking to bounce back with victory.

“Murray is very fast and very strong.”

“It was really just my second race since nationals and this weekend will be my third (due to injury).”

“In big races I have overcome him in the past, but I will need to get off to a good start because he goes out hard and is strong enough to hold on.”

Barcelona gold medallist Clint Robinson will look to get off to a good start tomorrow, with the 39-year-old looking to join Equestrian legend Andrew Hoy, Sailor Colin Beashal and awesome foursome member James Tomkins in the exclusive group to have represented the nation at six Olympics.

“It would be an honour, and I know both those guys quite well so I’ll have to ask them what it meant to them.”

“I’m just looking at it as making another team, it’s a new year and I’m sure everyone will be as keen as mustard to go out there and beat me.”

Australian Canoeing