Australian Olympic Kayak team arrives in Beijing
July 31, 2008
The majority of the Australian Olympic kayak team travelled on a Qantas flight from Sydney to Beijing yesterday. I was on the same flight and got to have a word to a few of them.
I got to talk to one of Australia’s most experienced Olympians, Clint Robinson. He is competing in his fifth and last Olympics. Robinson won gold in the K1 1000m all the way back at the Barcelona Olympics. He has also won a silver in the K2 500m event in Athens and a bronze in the K1 1000m in Atlanta.
In the Beijing Olympics Robinson is part of the K2 500m and K4 1000m teams. I asked Clint what he thought his chances were of winning a medal in Beijing. He said it will be a tough ask as the team is new. It all depends on how things go over the next few weeks. He pointed out that only the best 10 for each event compete in Beijing so there is no easy ride into the final.
Robinson is unsure if he will take part in the opening ceremony. He said he will see how he is feeling after settling into the athletes village. He said he is there to compete in his events and anything on top of that is a bonus.
Tony Schumacher who will team up with Robinson in the K2 500m and the K4 1000m is competing in his first ever Olympics. He said much the same as Robinson. He needs to see how he is feeling over the next couple of weeks. The kayakers compete in the second week of the China Olympics.
Chantal Meek who will be competing in the K1 and K4 500m events found the trip tiring. As we were all waiting for the luggage to arrive she snoozed off for a while on a baggage trolley.
Ken Wallace, Australia’s top hope for a medal in Beijing will be making his way to Beijing closer to the games.
As I said to Clint and Tony, good luck to the Australian kayak team.
The flatwater and slalom events will be held at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park north of Beijing.
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