2016 Olympic & Paralympic Media Guide Thank you to all our supporters CONTENTS

Welcome to British ...... 4 Slalom History...... 6 Great Britain's track record...... 6 Sport overview...... 7 Terminology...... 8 Competition schedule...... 9 Olympic events and competition format...... 10 Selection process...... 10 Ones to watch...... 11 Olympic and World Championship medallists...... 11 venue...... 12 Athlete profiles...... 13-16 History...... 18 Great Britain's track record...... 18 Sport overview...... 19 Terminology...... 20 Competition schedule...... 21 Olympic events and competition format...... 22 Selection process...... 23 Ones to watch...... 23 Olympic and World Championship medallists...... 24 Athlete profiles...... 25-30 Paracanoe History...... 32 Great Britain's track record...... 32 Sport overview...... 33 Terminology...... 34 Competition schedule...... 35 Paralympic events and competition format...... 36 Selection process...... 36 Ones to watch...... 37 World Championship medallists...... 37 Paracanoe and canoe sprint venue...... 38 Athlete profiles...... 39-44 The team behind the team...... 45-46

MEDIA CONTACT For further information or to organise an interview with athletes or staff please contact: Katriona Bush, British Canoeing High Perfomance Media and PR Manager Mobile: 07971 782662 Email: [email protected]

3 MEDIA GUIDE

Welcome to British Canoeing It doesn’t seem five minutes since we were We are also getting ready for our home at particularly excited 2012. Four years on, we have much to that paracanoe will reflect on and be proud of, as our 2016 Olympic make its Paralympic and Paralympic teams in canoe slalom, canoe debut this year. sprint and paracanoe prepare to take on the We established best in the world in , Brazil. our performance programme in 2011 Canoeing had its most successful ever Games and have enjoyed considerable success. in 2012, winning four medals to be the third ranked canoeing nation, finishing sixth on the Despite the rapid growth and improving Team GB medal table. Since then our sport has standards at world level, Great Britain has been flourished both off and on the water. the leading paracanoe nation since 2012 and we are sending a full team of six athletes to Rio, At Lee Valley White Water Centre, the 2012 one of only two nations to do so. Games venue for slalom, in partnership with Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Sport None of this would have been possible without and UK Sport, we have built a fabulous the vision and commitment of British Canoeing high performance centre which has significantly staff and the support of our key partners. I improved the training environment for our would particularly like to acknowledge Sport programme. We have engaged with local England and UK Sport for their continued schools and established a talent development Lottery funding, which has enabled us to build a pathway that is already reaping rewards, with tangible legacy on all fronts from London 2012. our first athlete selected for the British junior team and we now have a thriving community Over the last cycle we have worked closely with paddlesports club with over 300 members. both the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association to prepare our Last year we hosted a successful slalom World athletes for the Games environment and the Championships, where we qualified all four challenges that lie ahead. We are confident that boats for Rio and was crowned we will arrive in Brazil amongst the very best World Champion for the second time in C1. prepared teams and we wish our athletes and staff all the very best for Rio 2016. Similarly, we now have a new high performance centre for canoe sprint at and we And finally, we thank you for your coverage are starting to see a wealth of new young talent of our sport. We hope you will find this guide coming through from our clubs and talent useful and that you enjoy reporting on our development programme. Our Girls4Gold three exciting canoeing disciplines. programme based at is also proving a success, with a number of athletes now on U23 and senior teams. In June, was crowned European champion in the men’s K1 200m and Jess Walker took silver in John Anderson MBE, the equivalent event for women. British Canoeing Performance Director

4 Canoe SLALOM CANOE SLALOM

Canoeing is a fantastic sport with two exciting Olympic disciplines – canoe slalom and canoe sprint. In both disciplines two types of boats are used; and . History Great Britain’s track record Canoe slalom began in in Switzerland in British Canoeing has a strong track record of 1933 on flatwater, with the concept being medal success at European, World and Olympic modelled on ski slalom, but it soon switched to level and has won Olympic medals in canoe whitewater rapids. It made its Olympic debut in slalom since 1992. 1972 at the Munich Games on the first artificial whitewater course, which set the blueprint for Great Britain has won a total of seven Olympic modern day competition courses. However medals to date, including gold and silver at canoe slalom only became a permanent part London 2012, when and Etienne of the programme 20 years later in Barcelona Stott won canoe slalom’s first ever Olympic in 1992. gold medal in the men’s Canoe Double (C2) event, narrowly beating fellow Brits David Every canoe slalom competition in the Olympics Florence and , to complete a Games has been held on an artificial course, historic one-two on the final day of the slalom apart from at the Atlanta Games in 1996 when competition. the river bed of the Ocoee River was altered to accommodate the event. British Canoeing as a whole had its most successful ever Olympic Games at London Boat design has changed dramatically since the 2012, winning two gold, one silver and one sport’s inception with canvas folding canoes bronze medal. Great Britain was the third replaced by fibreglass and now carbon fibre. ranked Olympic canoeing nation and finished sixth on the Team GB medal table. GREAT BRITAIN’S TRACK RECORD

Games / Year Name Event / Medal Barcelona 1992 Gareth Marriott Men’s C1 – silver Sydney 2000 Men’s K1 – silver Athens 2004 Campbell Walsh Men’s K1 – silver Athens 2004 Helen Reeves Women’s K1 – bronze 2008 David Florence Men’s C1 – silver London 2012 Tim Baillie & Men’s C2 – gold London 2012 David Florence & Richard Hounslow Men’s C2 – silver Total 1 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze = 7

6 CANOE SLALOM

London 2012 medallists Etienne Stott, Tim Baillie, Richard Hounslow and David Florence

gate is a minimum of 15m and a maximum of Sport overview 25m from the finish. Canoe slalom is a race against the clock through a combination of up and downstream gates on Course designers set the gate patterns with a whitewater course. The course length and the aim of utilising the water features - eddies, number of gates vary: up to 300m long, with a waves and stoppers - to create a competitive maximum of 25 gates. course. No two courses are the same. The course is designed so that the fastest athletes The course is set with a mix of upstream and will stop-the-clock between 90 to 110 seconds. downstream gates; each presents a unique There are no practice runs on the specific gate challenge for the athlete, significantly testing sequences set. their ability to read and work with the water flow, whilst maintaining their trajectory, balance Athletes can incur time penalties with two- and speed. seconds added for a gate touch and 50-seconds for missing a gate. The combined score of time The direction the athlete must travel through and penalties determines the finish order. each gate is indicated by colour: red for upstream and green for downstream. There International competitions have a qualification are six upstream gates on each course. The last round followed by a semi-final and a final which has 10 athletes.

7 CANOE SLALOM

The difference between a and a canoe is the water on alternate sides to propel the boat simple; it’s the number of blades on the forward. and the athlete’s position in the boat. In canoe, the paddle has a shorter single-blade In kayak, the paddler is seated and uses a and the athlete is strapped into the boat in a double-bladed paddle pulling the blade through kneeling position.

K1 Kayak C1 Canoe

Upstream gate: A slalom gate with red and Terminology white poles that has to be negotiated against Athlete: the flow of water, normally found in an eddy. Staggers: A sequence of downstream gates with Paddler: a canoeist. green and white poles that are set in a tight formation. Water features: Two: A two second penalty for touching a pole. Eddy: An eddy is an area of flat/stiller water Fifty: A fifty second penalty for: missing a gate created behind an obstacle or rock. altogether, negotiating it in the wrong direction Drop: A fall of water creating fast current and or order, where the whole head fails to pass tough eddies. correctly between the two suspended poles, or Stopper: Where the water goes over an going through it upside down. obstacle and turns back on itself creating white foam – stoppers can stop the athletes in their Equipment: tracks. PFD: A paddler’s buoyancy aid or ‘personal flotation device’. Gates and penalties: Spraydeck: A cover worn around the paddler’s Gates: Pairs of suspended coloured poles waist and stretched over the cockpit to keep which paddlers must go through in the correct water out of the boat. direction

8 CANOE SLALOM

Competition schedule At Rio 2016 the canoe slalom competition will take place from 7-11th August at the Olympic Whitewater Stadium in the Deodoro cluster. There will be two days of heats followed by three days of Semi-Finals/Finals.

Date Session Time Events Sunday 7 August 12:30 - 16:15 Men’s Canoe Single (C1) & Men’s Kayak (K1) Heats 12.30 - 13.10 Men’s C1 Heats 1st Run 13.20 - 14.12 Men’s K1 Heats 1st Run 14.30 - 15.10 Men’s C1 Heats 2nd Run 15.20 - 16.12 Men’s K1 Heats 2nd Run Monday 8 August 12:30 - 15:55 Men’s Canoe Double (C2) & Women’s Kayak (K1) Heats 12.30 - 13.00 Men’s C2 Heats 1st Run 13.10 - 14.02 Women’s K1 Heats 1st Run 14.20 - 14.50 Men’s C2 Heats 2nd Run 15.00 - 15.52 Women’s K1 Heats 2nd Run Tuesday 9 August 13:30 - 16:05 Men’s Canoe Single (C1): Semi-final, Final & Medal Ceremony 13.30 - 14.06 Men’s C1 Semi-final 15.10 - 15.40 Men’s C1 Final 15.50 - 16.05 Men’s C1 Medal Ceremony Wednesday 10 August 13:30 - 16:10 Men’s Kayak (K1): Semi-final, Final & Medal Ceremony 13.30 - 14.15 Men’s K1 Semi-final 15.15 - 15.45 Men’s K1 Final 15.55 - 16.10 Men’s K1 Medal Ceremony Thursday 11 August 12:30 - 16:15 Men’s Canoe Double (C2) & Women’s Kayak (K1): Semi-final, Final & Medal Ceremony 12.30 - 13.03 Men’s C2 Heats Semi-final 13.15 - 14.00 Women’s K1 Semi-final 14.15 - 14.45 Men’s C2 Final 15.00 - 15.30 Women’s K1 Final 15.40 - 15.55 Men’s C2 Medal Ceremony 16.00 - 16.15 Women’s K1 Medal Ceremony

N.B. All session times are correct at time of going to press but may be subject to change.

9 CANOE SLALOM

The start order for each class is the reverse Olympic events and order of ICF world rankings. The faster of the competition format two runs will determine the results of the heats. The start order of the semi-final will be There are five events within canoe slalom with the reverse order of the results of the heats. both men and women contesting the kayak and The start order of the final will be the reverse canoe singles (K1W, K1M, C1W, C1M); men can order of the results of the semi-final. also race in the canoe doubles (C2M). However the Olympic programme does not currently include the women’s C1 class, which will make Selection process its debut at Tokyo 2020, replacing the C2. Great Britain qualified the maximum of The Olympic competition format comprises one boat per event at the 2015 World heats, with the best of two runs to count. Championships, held at Lee Valley White Water Successful qualification leads to a semi-final and Centre in Hertfordshire i.e. a maximum of five potentially a final (both one run) two or three athletes. Olympic selection trials were then days later. The number of boats that qualify for held at the same venue in October 2015 to each stage of the competition is as follows: select the individual athletes for Rio 2016 in each boat. Four athletes were subsequently nominated to the British Olympic Association Stage K1W K1M C1M C2M and were selected for Team GB on 4th Number of boats November 2016 as follows: Heats 21 21 16 12 Semi-final 15 15 12 11 • Men’s K1 – Final 10 10 10 10 • Men’s C1 – David Florence • Men’s C2 – David Florence & Richard Hounslow • Women’s K1 –

10 CANOE SLALOM

Ones to watch Olympic medals in canoe Canoe slalom is a sport dominated by the slalom 1972-2012 Europeans with 11 of the 12 medals at London 2012 Olympic Games going to European Country Gold Silver Bronze Total competitors. With only five of the 12 London SVK 7 2 3 12 medallists racing in Rio, new champions will be FRA 6 3 7 16 crowned in each class. GER 4 2 5 11 CZE 2 4 2 8 GDR* 4 0 1 5 ITA 2 0 1 3 GBR 1 5 1 7 USA 1 2 2 5 TCH 1 1 0 2 FRG* 0 3 1 4 AUS 0 3 1 4 AUT 0 1 1 2 POL 0 1 0 1 SLO 0 1 0 1 ESP 0 0 1 1 RUS 0 0 1 1 TOG 0 0 1 1

*1972 only (GDR German Democratic Republic; David Florence FRG Federal Republic of )

Current Olympic and World Champions

Class Olympic Games - London 2012 World Championships - London 2015 Men’s K1 1. ITA 1. Jiri Prskavec CZE 2. Vavrinec Hradilek CZE 2. Mateusz Polaczyk POL 3. GER 3. Michal Smolen USA Men’s C1 1. FRA 1. David Florence GBR 2. Sideris Tasiadis GER 2. Benjamin Savsek SLO 3. Michal Martikan SVK 3. Ryan Westley GBR Men’s C2 1. Tim Baillie & Etienne Stott GBR 1. & GER 2. David Florence & Richard Hounslow GBR 2. Pierre Pico & FRA 3. & 3. & Matthieu Peche FRA SVK Women’s K1 1. Emilie Fer FRA 1. Katerina Kudejova CZE 2. Jessica Fox AUS 2. GER 3. Maialen Chourraut ESP 3. Melanie Pfeifer GER

11 CANOE SLALOM

Canoe Slalom venue Olympic Whitewater Stadium, Deodoro

The venue getting ready for the Games

12 CANOE SLALOM: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

Fiona PENNIE Event: Canoe Slalom - Women’s K1

Fiona Pennie is one of Britain’s most experienced women’s K1 slalom kayakers. She won the British Olympic selection trials in October 2015 and will represent Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. This will be her second Olympic Games having competed in Beijing 2008. Fiona has had great success over the last few years, becoming European Champion in 2013 and World Championship silver medallist in 2014. At the 2015 World Championships on her Date of birth: 09/11/1982 (33) home course at Lee Valley she finished 9th in the K1 final and Born: Alexandria, Dumbartonshire, won K1 Team silver. Hometown: Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland Fiona learnt to kayak in Scotland with her first coach Johnny Lives: Waltham Abbey, Essex Brown. Her mother was an sprint paddler, Occupation: Athlete which probably explains why Fiona has played in boats since she was just a few months old! Height / weight: 1.69m / 70kg Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, Rio 2016 Away from training, Fiona likes to repair boats and has done since: 1992 repairs on most boats within the team. She also plays hockey for Club: C.R. Cats Waltham Forest HC and likes to get out on her bike. Coach: Mark Ratcliffe Major results: Boat: Vajda Salto : G’Power ¡¡ 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing: K1 – 17th Sponsors: Activbod, Active Essex, PeakUK, Vajda Canoes & Kayaks, ¡¡ 2016 ECA European Championships, Liptovsky: K1 Team – 1st G’Power Paddles. ¡ ¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, London: K1 – 9th Lottery funding: UK Sport Podium Programme ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Championships, Deep Creek: K1 2nd ¡¡ 2014 ECA European Championships, Vienna: K1 – 5th Hobbies: DIY, drum kit, hockey, , ¡¡ 2013 ECA European Championships, Krakow: K1 – 1st photography, cycling ¡¡ 2012 ECA European Championships, Augsburg: K1 – 3rd Website: www.fionapennie.com 2006 ICF World Championships, : K1 – 2nd Twitter: @FionaPennie

13 CANOE SLALOM: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

JOE CLARKE Event: Canoe Slalom - Men’s K1

Joe is a K1 slalom kayaker and after only four years as part of the senior British team, he is starting to make his mark on the world stage, challenging for the podium throughout the last three seasons, including winning his first senior individual medal in K1 at World Cup 5 in 2014. In October last year he won the British Olympic selection trials at Lee Valley White Water Centre to secure his selection for Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Date of birth: 03/11/1992 (23) Born: Stoke-on-Trent Major results: Hometown: Stone, Staffordshire ¡¡ 2016 ECA European Championships, Liptovsky: K1 - 10th Lives: Waltham Abbey, Essex ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, Markkleeberg: K1 - 8th Occupation: Athlete ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 2, Krakow: K1 - 4th Height / weight: 1.84m / 75kg ¡ ¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 4, La Seu d’Urgell: K1 - 9th Olympic Games: Rio 2016 ¡¡ 2014 ECA European Championships, Vienna: K1 – 11th ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 1, London: K1 - 11th Paddling since: 2003 ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 3, Prague: K1 - 6th Club: Stafford & Stone ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 5, Augsburg: K1 - 2nd Coach: Mark Ratcliffe ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Prague: K1 – 6th Boat: Caipi Paddles: RAAB Sponsors: Nike, Galasport, Red Bull Lottery funding: UK Sport Podium Programme Hobbies: Cycling Website: www.joe-clarke.co.uk Twitter: @joeclarkek1

14 CANOE SLALOM: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

David FLORENCE Events: Canoe Slalom - Men’s C1 & Men’s C2

In 2015 David Florence had an outstanding season, becoming World Champion in C1 for the second time in his career, claiming the victory on his home course at Lee Valley White Water Centre in September. A month later he won the Olympic selection trials in both C1 and C2 with partner Richard Hounslow. He will now represent Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where he will become the first British Canoe Slalom athlete to attend three successive Games. Date of birth: 08/08/1982 (33) David is one of the world’s top men’s C1 and C2 slalom canoeists Born: , Scotland and has won numerous medals in both events over the last 10 Hometown: , Edinburgh years. He began competing in C2 with Richard Hounslow in 2009 Lives: Loughton, Essex and after just a year training together, the pair won both World Occupation: Athlete and European Championship bronze. Height / weight: 1.88m / 78kg At the 2013 World Championships in Prague Florence became Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, the first paddler in 60 years to win both the C1 and C2 titles in Rio 2016 the same year, also making him the first ever British paddler to Paddling since: 1996 win a C1 and C2 World title with his partner Richard Hounslow. Club: Forth David is a double Olympic silver medallist, coming second in C1 Coach: Mark Delaney at Beijing 2008, and then in C2 at London 2012 with Richard Boat: Vajda MM Hounslow. He is the first athlete in the history of canoe slalom to Paddles: Vajda have won Olympic medals in more than one class. Sponsors: Lloyd’s Register, Samworth Brothers, Peak UK David has a degree in Mathematical Physics from Nottingham Lottery funding: UK Sport Podium Programme University. Hobbies: Snowboarding, , , Major results: golf, languages Website: ww.davidflorence.com ¡¡ 2012 Olympic Games, London: C1 – 10th, C2 – 2nd Twitter: @David_Florence ¡¡ 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing: C1 – 2nd

¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, London: C1 – 1st ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, Markkleeberg: C2 – 3rd ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Prague: C1 – 1st, C2 – 1st ¡¡ 2010 ICF World Championships, Ljubljana: C2 – 3rd ¡¡ 2010 ECA European Championships, : C2 – 3rd ¡¡ ICF World Cup Series: 22 medals (C1 – 4 gold, 5 silver, 7 bronze; C2 – 1 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze)

15 CANOE SLALOM: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

Richard HOUNSLOW Event: Canoe Slalom - Men’s C2

Richard Hounslow was one of the first slalom canoeists to compete in both men’s kayak (K1) and the canoe double (C2), joining forces with David Florence in 2009. Richard and David won C2 European Championship Bronze in 2015 and finished 5th at the World Championships on their home course at Lee Valley White Water Centre in September last year, qualifying the British C2 boat for the 2016 Olympic Games. A month later they secured their own Olympic berths, Date of birth: 19/12/1981 (34) winning the Olympic selection trials in C2. Richard will now Born: Harrow, London represent Team GB at Rio 2016, which will be his second Hometown: Harrow, London successive Olympics. Lives: Waltham Abbey, Essex Following the 2015 World Championships, Richard retired from Occupation: Athlete K1 to fully focus on Olympic success in C2 this year. Height / weight: 1.83m / 76kg Olympic Games: London 2012, Rio 2016 At the 2013 World Championships in Prague Richard won the C2 Paddling since: 1990 title with David Florence, an achievement which made them the Club: Independent first British C2 boat to win a World Championship. The pair also Coach: Mark Delaney won silver in the C2 at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Boat: Vajda MM Richard has a degree in Sports Science and Management from Paddles: Vajda Nottingham Trent University. Lottery funding: UK Sport Podium Programme Hobbies: Golf, mountainbiking, Major results: socialising, watching movies ¡¡ 2012 Olympic Games, London: C2 – 2nd, K1 – 12th Website: www.richardhounslow.co.uk Twitter: @RichHounslow ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 2, La Seu d’Urgell: C2- 4th ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, London: C2 – 5th ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, Markkleeberg: C2 – 3rd ¡¡ 2015 World Cup 4, La Seu d’Urgell: C2 - 3rd ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 5, Augsburg: C2 - 3rd ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Prague: C2 – 1st ¡¡ 2012 ICF World Cup 1, Cardiff: C2 – 1st ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Cup 4, Prague: C2 – 3rd ¡¡ 2010 ICF World Championships, Tacen: C2 – 3rd ¡¡ 2010 ECA European Championships, Bratislava: C2 – 3rd

16 Canoe SPRINT

Canoeing is a fantastic sport with two exciting Olympic disciplines – canoe slalom and canoe sprint. In both disciplines two types of boats are used; canoes and kayaks.

History Great Britain’s track record The history of canoeing goes back hundreds of British Canoeing has a strong track record of years as a mode of transport, but it wasn’t until medal success at European, World and Olympic the middle of the 19th century that the first level. Since winning its first canoe sprint official canoe and kayak races were held. Olympic medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Great Britain has won at least one medal in In 19th century Britain John McGregor founded canoe sprint at subsequent Games producing a the in 1866 and the first total of six medals. competitions were held in the same year. In 1924 the International Canoe Federation (ICF), is Great Britain’s most successful formally the IRK, was formed and canoe sprint Olympic canoeist, winning three medals across made an entrance as a demonstration sport two Games including the sport’s first ever gold at the Paris Olympics. Twelve years later at the at Beijing 2008. 1936 Games, canoeing and was fully included on the Games programme, with At London 2012 Great Britain’s Ed McKeever women competing from 1948. won gold in the men’s K1 200m, the first time this shorter distance was included as part of Sprint’s Olympic programme has varied a the Olympic programme. This was followed by great deal over the years and has changed a bronze from Liam Heath and in and adapted in order to improve its global TV the men’s K2 200m event. appeal, as well as maximise the use of the latest advances in boat technology. The number of British Canoeing as a whole had its most events has grown steadily from nine to 12. successful ever Olympic Games at London 2012, winning two gold, one silver and one bronze medal. Great Britain was the third ranked Olympic canoeing nation and finished sixth on the Team GB medal table.

GREAT BRITAIN’S TRACK RECORD

Games / Year Name Event / Medal Sydney 2000 Tim Brabants Men’s K1 1000m – bronze Sydney 2000 Ian Wynne Men’s K1 500m – bronze Athens 2004 Tim Brabants Men’s K1 1000m – gold Beijing 2008 Tim Brabants Men’s K1 500m – bronze London 2012 Ed McKeever Men’s K1 200m – gold London 2012 Liam Heath & Jon Schofield Men’s K2 200m – bronze Total 2 gold, 4 bronze = 6

18 CANOE SPRINT

London 2012 bronze medallists Jon Schofield and Liam Heath relaxed grip on the paddle and use of body Sport overview rotation to minimise the use of arm muscles, In canoe sprint, competitors race head-to-head all allow athletes to go faster and harder for on a straight flatwater course, with each boat in longer. a separate lane (nine metres wide) over three different distances: 200m, 500m, and 1000m. The rhythm of the canoeist’s strokes is There are kayak events in single (K1), double determined by the ‘catch’ and ‘pull’. The (K2) and quadruple (K4) boats and canoe purpose of the catch is to submerge the paddle events in single (C1), double (C2) boats. to the top of the blade; pulling before the blade is completely covered will result in a splash and The boats have long narrow hulls for speed. less power. The ‘pull’ is the action that drives Kayaks, which are steered using a small rudder, the boat forwards so needs as much power as are propelled from a seated position using a possible. double-bladed paddle. Canoes are paddled from a kneeling position (on one knee), using a shorter, single bladed paddle. The boat is steered by the athlete making corrective strokes with their paddle.

Canoe sprint is the ultimate challenge in speed, strength and technique, with the shortest races taking just over 30 seconds to complete.

Upper body strength is crucial to success and athletes train hard to achieve the explosive power they need to win. But strength is useless without good technique. Good posture, a Rachel Cawthorn

19 CANOE SPRINT

Shaft: The narrow part of a paddle, gripped by Terminology the paddler. Athlete: Blade: The end(s) of a paddle. Start gate: The yellow metal ‘boot’ in which the Paddler: A canoeist. bow of the boat sits before the start of the race. Boat Technique Bow: The front of the boat. Stroke rate: The number of paddle strokes per Stern: The rear of the boat. minute. Cockpit: Mid-section of the craft, in which the Catch: The split second as the paddle blade paddler sits. enters the water. Pull: The action that drives the boat forwards. Equipment Wash: The rough water left behind a moving Wing paddle: A paddle with a curved, almost boat. spoon-shaped blade, now used by most competitors.

20 CANOE SPRINT

Competition schedule and venue At Rio 2016 the canoe sprint regatta will take place from 15 - 20th August at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. With the wind blowing straight off the Copacabana beach and Christ the Redeemer overlooking the race course, the canoe sprint promises to be an impressive spectacle.

A day of heats and semi-finals will be followed by a day of finals over six days.

Date Session Time Events Monday 15 August 09:00- 11:45 Men’s Canoe Single (C1) 1000m: Heats, Semi-finals Women’s Kayak Double (K2) 500m: Heats, Semi-final Women’s Kayak Single (K1) 200m: Heats, Semi-finals Men’s Kayak Single (K1) 1000m: Heats, Semi-finals Tuesday 16 August 09:00- 10:40 Men’s Canoe Single (C1) 1000m: Final B & A, Medal Ceremony Women’s Kayak Double (K2) 500m: Final B & A, Medal Ceremony Women’s Kayak Single (K1) 200m: Final B & A, Medal Ceremony Men’s Kayak Single (K1) 1000m: Final B & A, Medal Ceremony Wednesday 17 August 09:00- 12:00 Men’s Kayak Double (K2) 1000m: Heats, Semi-final Men’s Canoe Single (C1) 200m: Heats, Semi-finals Men’s Kayak Double (K2) 200m: Heats, Semi-final Women’s Kayak Single (K1) 500m: Heats, Semi-finals Thursday 18 August 09:00- 10:40 Men’s Kayak Double (K2) 1000m: Final A, Medal Ceremony Men’s Canoe Single (C1) 200m: Final B & A, Medal Ceremony Men’s Kayak Double (K2) 200m: Final B & A, Medal Ceremony Women’s Kayak Single (K1) 500m: Final B & A, Medal Ceremony Friday 19 August 09:00- 11:30 Men’s Kayak Single (K1) 200m: Heats, Semi-finals Men’s Canoe Double (C2) 1000m: Heats, Semi-final Women’s Kayak Four (K4) 500m: Heats, Semi-final Men’s Kayak Four (K4) 1000m: Heats, Semi-final Saturday 20 August 09:00 – 10:30 Men’s Kayak Single (K1) 200m: Final B & A, Medal Ceremony Men’s Canoe Double (C2) 1000m: Final A, Medal Ceremony Women’s Kayak Four (K4) 500m: Final A, Medal Ceremony Men’s Kayak Four (K4) 1000m: Final A, Medal Ceremony

N.B. All session times are correct at time of going to press but may be subject to change.

21 CANOE SPRINT

In international competition races are split Olympic events and into nine lanes, but the Olympic Games is competition format an exception, with races comprising of eight athletes. The heats are seeded and the winners of the preceding World Championships will 12 Olympic medals will be contested in canoe compete in the centre lanes (4 & 5). In the sprint in the following eight events for men and semi-finals, the winners of the heats will four for women: compete in the centre lanes. In the finals, the • Men’s K1, K2 & K4 over 1000m winners of the heats and/or semi-finals will • Men’s K1 & K2 over 200m compete in the centre lanes. • Men’s C1 & C2 over 1000m • Men’s C1 over 200m Depending on the number of entries in an • Women’s K1, K2 & K4 over 500m event, there are heats, semi-finals and A/B • Women’s K1 over 200m finals as detailed below. When there are 12 or more boats in an event, non-medal ‘B’ finals At Rio 2016 women will only compete in kayak will also be held to give a final ranking. events, although this looks set to change in Tokyo 2020, when the women’s C1 200m will be included.

No. of Number of: Progression from heats Progression from semi-finals boats Heats Semi-finals Finals Up to 8 - - A – – 9-10 2 1 A 1st to final; rest to SFs 1st-6th to final, rest out 11 2 2 A 1st to final; rest to SFs 1st-3rd to final, rest out 12-16 2 2 A + B 1st to final A, rest to SFs 1st-3rd to final A; 4th to 7th to B final 17-19 3 2 A + B 1st to final A, rest to SFs 1st & 2nd to final plus fastest 3rd-placed boat 20-24 3 2 A + B 1st-5th to SFs plus fastest 1st-4th to final A; 6th-placed boat 5th-8th to B final 25-27 4 3 A + B 1st-5th to SFs plus fastest 1st + 2nd to final A plus two fastest 3rd- 6th-placed boat placed boats; best ranking by time to B final 28-32 4 3 A +B 1st-6th to SFs 1st + 2nd to A final plus two fastest 3rd- placed boats; best ranking by time to B final

If a boat makes two false starts it will be disqualified. Disqualification also occurs if a boat leaves its lane during the race.

Once the competition has started, team members cannot be changed, regardless of illness or injury.

22 CANOE SPRINT

Athletes also competed in the ICF World Cups Selection process 1 and 2 before the final team was nominated Each country can only qualify one boat per to the British Olympic Association. The athletes event. Based on results at the 2015 World selected for Team GB were announced on Championships, Great Britain qualified six Tuesday 14 June 2016 as follows: athlete quota places in two boats: Men’s K2 200m and the Women’s K4 500m. However, • Women’s K1 200m & K4 500m - once an athlete has qualified a place in one Jessica Walker event, they may compete in an additional event • Women’s K1 500m & K4 500m - if there is no other athlete already qualified in Rachel Cawthorn that event from the same country. • Women’s K4 500m – Louisa Gurski • Women’s K4 500m - Rebeka Simon To select the athletes to compete at Rio 2016, • Men’s K1 200m & K2 200m – Liam British Canoeing held its own Olympic selection Heath trials at the National Water Sports Centre in • Men’s K2 200m – Jonathan Schofield Nottingham on 18 and 19 April 2016.

Ones to watch Over 90% of Olympic medals in Canoe Sprint have been won by European nations, with Russia, Germany and consistently at the top of the medal table.

Class/Distance Olympic Games – London 2012 World Championships – Milan 2015 Men’s K1 1000m 1. Eirik Veraas Larsen NOR 1. Rene Holten Poulsen DEN 2. CAN 2. Josef Dostal CZE 3. GER 3. POR Men’s K2 1000m 1. Rudolf Dombi & Roland Kokeny HUN 1. & GER 2. Fernando Pimenta & POR 2. Kenny Wallace & Tame Lachlan AUS 3. & GER 3. Marko Tomicevic & Milenko Zoric SRB Men’s K4 1000m 1. , , , 1. Denis Mysak, Erik Vlcek, , Tibor AUS Linka SVK 2. Zoltan Kammerer, David Toth, Tamas 2. Zoltan Kammerer, David Toth, Tamas Kulifai, Daniel Pauman HUN Kulifai, Daniel Pauman HUN 3. , Lukas Trefil, Josef Dostal, Jan 3. Daniel Havel, Lukas Trefil, Josef Dostal, Jan Sterba CZE Sterba CZE Men’s K1 200m 1. Edward McKeever GBR 1. Mark deJonge CAN 2. Saul Craviotto ESP 2. Maxime Beaumont FRA 3. Mark deJonge CAN 3. SWE Men’s K2 200m 1. Yuri Postrigay & RUS 1. Sandor Totka & Peter Molnar HUN 2. & Vadzim Makhneu 2. Yuri Postrigay & Alexander Dyachenko RUS BLR 3. Nebojsa Grujic & Marko Novakovic SRB 3. Liam Heath & Jonathan Schofield GBR

23 CANOE SPRINT

Class/Distance Olympic Games – London 2012 World Championships – Milan 2015 Men’s C1 1000m 1. GER 1. Sebastian Brendel GER 2. David Cal ESP 2. Martin Fuksa CZE 3. Mark Oldershaw CAN 3. Serghei Tarnovschi MDA Men’s C2 1000m 1. & Kurt Kuschela GER 1. Erlon Silva & Isaquias Queiroz Dos Santos 2. & Aliaksandr BRA Bahdanovich BLR 2. Henrik Vasbanyai & Robert Mike HUN 3. Alexei Korovashkov & RUS 3. Piotr Kuleta & Marcin Grzybowski POL Men’s C1 200m 1. Yuriy Cheban UKR 1. Artsem Kozyr BLR 2. Jevgenij Shuklin LTU 2. Qiang Li CHN 3. Ivan Shtyl RUS 3. Isaquias Queiroz Dos Santos BRA Women’s K1 500m 1. Danuta Kozak HUN 1. NZL 2. Inna Osypenko-Radomska UKR 2. Anna Karasz HUN 3. Brigitte Hartley RSA 3. Yu Zhou CHN Women’s K2 500m 1. & GER 1. Gabriella Szabo & Danuta Kozak HUN 2. Katalin Kovacs & Natasa Douchev-Janics 2. Milica Starovic & Dalma Ruzicic Benedek HUN SRB 3. Karalina Naja & Beata Mikolajczyk POL 3. Franziska Weber & Tina Dietze GER Women’s K4 500m 1. Katalin Kovacs, Gabriella Szabo, Danuta 1. , , Kozak, Krisztina Fazekas HUN Nadzeya Liapeshka, Marharyta Makhneva 2. , Franziska Weber, Katrin BLR Wagner-Augustin, Tina Dietze GER 2. Gabriella Szabo, Danuta Kozak, Krisztina 3. Maryna Paltaran, Volha Khudzenka, Fazekas, Anna Karsaz HUN Nadzeya Papok, Iryna Pamialova BLR 3. Franziska Weber, Conny Wassmuth, Verena Hantl, Tina Dietze, GER Women’s K1 200m 1. Lisa Carrington NZL 1. Lisa Carrington NZL 2. Inna Osypenko-Radomska UKR 2. POL 3. Natas Douchev-Janics HUN 3. Teresa Portela ESP

Ed McKeever, 2012 Olympic champion, K1 200m

24 CANOE SPRINT: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

Rachel CAWTHORN Class/Distance: Canoe Sprint – Women’s K1 500m, K4 500m

Rachel Cawthorn is a women's K1, K2 and K4 sprint kayaker competing over several different distances and she is a long standing member of the British senior team. She represented Team GB at London 2012 and has been selected for her second successive Olympic Games in Rio 2016. In 2014 she won a gold and two bronze medals in the World Cup series. At the 2015 World Championships she qualified GB Date of Birth: 03/11/1988 (27) Olympic quota places in K1 500m and K4 500m. Born: Guildford, Surrey Hometown: Guildford, Surrey In 2010 Rachel became the K1 1000m European champion Lives: Maidenhead, Berkshire and went on to become Britain’s first woman to medal at both Training venue: Dorney Lake, Berkshire European and World Championship, where she won bronze in Occupation: Athlete the Olympic distance of 500m. Height / weight: 1.76m / 67kg She was introduced to sprint kayaking when she was 15, through Olympics: London 2012, Rio 2016 a talent identification scheme run by British Canoeing. She loved Paddling since: 2004 it straight away and was one of eight children picked from 1000. Club: Wey Kayak Club Rachel has recently been studying Horticulture at Berkshire Coach: Jonnie Schofield / Miklos Simon / Rob Sleeth College of Agriculture. Boat: Nelo Vanquish Quattro Major results: Paddles: Jantex Gamma Mediums Sponsors: Nelo kayaks, Jantex paddles, ¡¡ 2012 Olympic Games, London: K1 500m – 6th, K4 500m 5th Meaco Lottery funding: UK Sport Podium Programme ¡¡ 2016 ECA European Championships, : K4 500m – 4th ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K1 500m – 4th Hobbies: Exploring the great outdoors, ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 1, Duisburg: K4 500m – 4th gardening and keeping ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K1 500m – 8th, K4 500m – 5th chickens. After the Olympics ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, : K1 500m – 8th Rachel is organising a team to ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 3, Copenhagen: K1 500m – 2nd run the Tough Mudder race to ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 2, Duisburg: K1 500m – 4th raise money for Sports Aid. ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 3, Szeged: K2 500m – 1st, K4 500m – 3rd Website: www.rachelcawthorn.co.uk ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K2 200m – 3rd, K4 500m- 4th Twitter: @RachelCawthorn ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 500m – 5th ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K1 500m – 5th ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Cup 1, Szeged: K1 1000m – 4th ¡¡ 2012 ECA European Championships, Zagreb: K4 500m - 4th, K1 500m - 4th ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Championships, Szeged: K4 500m - 4th ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Cup 1 Poznan: K1 500m - 3rd ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Cup 2 Poznan: K1 500m - 1st ¡¡ 2010 ICF World Championships, Poznan: K1 500m - 3rd, K1 1000m - 4th ¡¡ 2010 ECA European Championships, Trasona: K1 1000m – 1st, K1 500m – 3rd ¡¡ 2010 ICF World Cup 3 Duisburg: K1 1000m – 1st, K1 500m – 1st, K1 200m – 3rd

25 CANOE SPRINT: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

Louisa GURSKI Class / Distance: Canoe Sprint - Women’s K4 500m

Louisa Gurski is a women’s sprint kayaker and in 2015 she helped to qualify the K4 500m Olympic quota place at the World Championships and has now been selected for Team GB in this event at Rio 2016. She also represented Team GB at London 2012 and at the in Baku in 2015. Louisa has won a number of World Cup medals including bronze in K4 500m in 2014. She is also a specialist at the non-Olympic distance of K1 5000m Date of Birth: 26/05/1988 (28) marathon and in 2014 became world champion. Born: Chertsey, Surrey Hometown: Walton–on-Thames, Surrey Louisa decided to have a go at canoeing when her older brother Lives: Maidenhead, Berkshire John took up the sport at their local club. Her twin brother quit canoeing at a young age because she was quicker than him. Training venue: Dorney Lake, Berkshire Occupation: Athlete Major results: Height / Weight: 1.73m /70kg Olympics: London 2012, Rio 2016 ¡¡ 2012 Olympic Games, London: K2 500m – 11th, K4 500m – 5th Paddling since: 1998 ¡¡ 2016 ECA European Championships, Moscow: K4 500m – 4th Club: Elmbridge Canoe Club ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 1, Duisburg: K4 500m – 4th Coach: Miklos Simon ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K4 500m – 5th Boat: Nelo Quattro ¡¡ 2015 European Championships, Baku: K4 500m – 8th Paddles: Braca 4 max ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 3, Copenhagen: K1 1000m – 3rd, K1 500m - 3rd ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 2, Duisburg: K2 500m – 5th, K1 5000m – 3rd Lottery funding: UK Sport Podium Programme ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Championships, Moscow: K1 5000m – 1st Hobbies: Cooking especially baking ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 3, Szeged: K4 500m – 3rd, K1 5000m – 2nd Twitter: @louisagurski ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K4 500m - 4th ¡¡ 2013 European Championships, Poznan: K1 5000m – 2nd ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K4 500m – 3rd ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Cup 1, Szeged: K4 500m – 4th, K1 5000m – 1st ¡¡ 2012 ECA European Championships, Zagreb: K4 500m - 4th ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Championships, Szeged: K4 500m - 4th ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Cup 2 Racice: K4 500m – 2nd ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Cup 3 Duisburg: K4 500m – 1st

26 CANOE SPRINT: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

Rebeka SIMON Class/Distance: Canoe Sprint - Women’s K4 500m

Rebeka (Rebii) Simon was born in Hungary and is a women’s sprint kayaker. In 2015 she helped to qualify the K4 500m Olympic quota place at the World Championships and has now been selected for Team GB in this event at Rio 2016. Rebii had a fantastic year in 2014, taking the silver in both the K1 1000m and 500m events at the Junior European Championships and silver in the K1 500m at the Junior World Championships in Szeged. She followed this up with another impressive Date of Birth: 06/07/1996 (20) performance finishing 5th in the K1 1000m at the senior World Born: Budapest Championships in Moscow, setting a huge personal best in what Hometown: Walton-on-Thames was her first outing as part of the senior GB Team. As a result Lives: Walton-on-Thames Rebeka was shortlisted for the BBC Young Sports Personality of Training venue: Dorney Lake, Berkshire the Year Award. Occupation: Athlete Height / weight: 1.73m / 70kg Major results: Olympics: Rio 2016 ¡¡ 2016 ECA European Championships, Moscow: K4 500m – 4th Paddling since: 2002 ¡ ¡ 2016 ICF World Cup, Racice: K1 1000m – 2nd Club: Elmbridge Canoe Club ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 1, Duisburg: K4 500m – 4th Coach: Miklos Simon ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K4 500m – 5th ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Championships, Moscow: K1 1000m – 5th Boat: Nelo Cinco ML ¡¡ 2014 ICF Jnr & U23 World Championships, Szeged: U23 K1 500m – Paddles: Braca 2nd, Jnr K1 500m – 2nd Sponsors: Craft ¡¡ 2014 Jnr & U23 European Championships, : Jnr K1 500m – 2nd, Lottery funding: UK Sport Podium Potential K1 1000m – 2nd Programme Hobbies: Shopping, reading, painting and drawing, can’t race without eating Nutella! Twitter: @itsrebii

27 CANOE SPRINT: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

Jessica WALKER Class/Distance: Canoe Sprint - Women’s K1 200m & K4 500m

Jessica (Jess) Walker is a women’s K1, K2 and K4 sprint kayaker. In 2015 she helped to qualify the K4 500m Olympic quota place at the World Championships and has now been selected for Team GB in this event at Rio 2016 and in the K1 200m. Rio will be her third successive Olympic Games having competed at London 2012 and Beijing 2008 at the age of 18. She is the 2016 European Championship silver medallist in the Date of Birth: 24/06/1990 (26) K1 200m and has won a number of World Cup medals including Born: Brighton gold in the K2 200m and bronze in the K4 500m in 2014. Hometown: Hampton Hill, London Lives: Teddington, Middlesex Jess also won a medal at the Australian . Occupation: Athlete Major results: Height / weight: 1.77m / 71kg Olympics: Beijing 2008, London 2012, ¡¡ 2012 Olympic Games, London: K1 200m – 7th, K4 500m – 5th Rio 2016 Paddling since: 2000 ¡¡ 2016 ECA European Championships, Moscow: K1 200m – 2nd, K4 Club: Royal Canoe Club 500m – 4th ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K1 200m – 6th Coach: Miklos Simon ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 1, Duisburg: K4 500m – 4th Boat: Nelo Quattro ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K4 500m – 5th Paddles: Braca ¡ ¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 2, Duisburg: K1 500m – 4th Lottery funding: UK Sport Podium Programme ¡¡ 2014 European Championships, Brandenburg: K2 200m – 3rd ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 3, Szeged: K2 200m – 1st, K4 500m – 3rd Hobbies: Jess is studying to be a Pilates ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K4 500m – 4th teacher, enjoys a good flat ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Championships, Szeged: K4 500m – 4th white ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K4 500m – 2nd, K1 200m – 3rd Twitter: @JessicaWalker10 ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Cup 3, Duisburg: K4 500m – 1st, K1 200m – 5th

28 CANOE SPRINT: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

Liam HEATH Class / Distance: Canoe Sprint - Men’s K2 200m & K1 200m

Liam Heath is a men’s sprint kayaker and won a bronze medal with partner Jon Schofield in the K2 200m at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Since the 200m events were introduced in 2009 the pair have been consistently on the podium. They are three- times European Champions and have won silver and bronze medals at the World Championships and multiple medals in the World Cup series. Date of Birth: 17/08/1984 (31) Recently, Liam has successfully started competing in the K1 Born: Guildford, Surrey 200m, winning World Cup gold and bronze and becoming Hometown: Guildford, Surrey European Champions in 2016. He has been selected in both Lives: Maidenhead, Berkshire events for Team GB at Rio 2016. Training venue: Dorney Lake, Berkshire Occupation: Athlete Liam was first introduced to kayaking as part of an organized Height / weight: 1.80m / 75kg ‘holiday fun’ activity week at Wey Kayak Club at the age of 10. In amongst other sporting activities he chose to pursue kayaking as Olympics: London 2012, Rio 2016 it came quickly and naturally to him. Paddling since: 1994 Club: Wey Kayak Club Liam attended Loughbrough University and graduated with a Coach: Alex Nikonorov degree in Industrial Design and Technology. Liam can name and Boat: Nelo Cinco make over 150 different cocktails. Paddles: Jantex Major results: Sponsors: Jantex Lottery funding: UK Sport Podium Programme ¡¡ 2012 Olympic Games, London: K2 200m – 3rd Hobbies: Art, Design and 3D design Twitter: @Liam_heath ¡¡ 2016 ECA European Championships, Moscow: K1 200m – 1st ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K1 200m – 1st, K2 200m – 3rd ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 1, Duisburg: K1 200m – 3rd ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K2 200m – 5th ¡¡ 2015 European Championships, Baku: K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 3, Copenhagen: K2 200m – 1st ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 2, Duisburg: K2 200m – 3rd ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Championships, Moscow: K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2014 European Championships, Brandenburg: K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K1 200m – 2nd, K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K2 200m – 2nd ¡¡ 2013 European Championships, Poznan: K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K2 200m – 2nd ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Cup 1, Szeged, K2 200m – 2nd ¡¡ 2012 ECA European Championships, Zagreb: K2 200m – 1st ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Championships, Szeged: K2 200m – 2nd ¡¡ 2011 ECA European Championships, : K2 200m – 1st ¡¡ 2010 ICF World Championships, Poznan: K2 200m – 3rd ¡¡ 2010 ECA European Championships, Trasona: K2 200m – 1st

29 CANOE SPRINT: GB OLYMPIC TEAM

Jonathan SCHOFIELD Class / Distance: Canoe Sprint - Men’s K2 200m

Jonathan (Jon) Schofield is a men’s K2 200m sprint kayaker and won a bronze medal with partner Liam Heath at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Since the 200m events were introduced in 2009 the pair have been consistently on the podium. They are three-times European Champions and have won silver and bronze medals at the World Championships and multiple medals in the World Cup series. Before his canoe sprint career, Jon was a very successful Date of Birth: 10/05/1985 (31 ) wild water canoeing athlete, winning the Junior World Born: Petersfield, Hampshire Championships in 2002 and the Senior European title in 2007. Hometown: Clitheroe, Lancashire He then changed canoeing disciplines to become a sprint kayaker Lives: Maidenhead, Berkshire and success came instantly. He is now part of a successful Training venue: Dorney Lake, Berkshire partnership with Liam Heath, under the guidance of coach, Occupation: Athlete Alex Nikonorov and has been selected for his second successive Height / Weight: 1.82m / 82kg Olympic Games at Rio 2016. Olympics: London 2012, Rio 2016 Jon graduated in 2010 from with Paddling since: 1996 a degree in Human Biology and also has an MSc in Applied Club: Soar Valley Canoe Club Physiology and Biomechanics from Brunel University. Coach: Alex Nikonorov Boat: Nelo Vanquish 4 Major results: Paddles: Jantex ¡¡ 2012 Olympic Games, London: K2 200m – 3rd Lottery funded: UK Sport Podium Programme Hobbies: Coffee, classic cars, guitar ¡ ¡ 2016 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K2 200m – 3rd Website: www.jon-schofield.co.uk ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K2 200m – 5th Twitter: @jonscho ¡¡ 2015 European Championships, Baku: K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 3, Copenhagen: K2 200m – 1st ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Cup 2, Duisburg: K2 200m – 3rd ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Championships, Moscow: K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2014 European Championships, Brandenburg: K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K2 200m – 2nd ¡¡ 2013 European Championships, Poznan: K2 200m – 4th ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Cup 2, Racice: K2 200m – 2nd ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Cup 1, Szeged, K2 200m – 2nd ¡¡ 2012 ECA European Championships, Zagreb: K2 200m – 1st ¡¡ 2011 ICF World Championships, Szeged: K2 200m – 2nd ¡¡ 2011 ECA European Championships, Belgrade: K2 200m – 1st ¡¡ 2010 ICF World Championships, Poznan: K2 200m – 3rd ¡¡ 2010 ECA European Championships, Trasona: K2 200m – 1st

30 Canoe PARACANOE PARACANOE

Paracanoe is the canoe sprint discipline for athletes with physical impairments and it will make its Paralympic debut in Rio 2016. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has also confirmed it will be included in Tokyo in 2020. History Great Britain’s track record Paracanoe was first launched by the Great Britain’s paracanoe team will be aiming to International Canoe Federation in 2009, in a make history in Rio as one of only two nations bid to expand the sport and make it accessible to have qualified for all six events, along with to the worldwide community of people with a Australia. physical disability and to target its inclusion in the Paralympic Games. Since the British Canoeing paracanoe programme was formed in 2011 it has proved 2010 saw the introduction of the first ever extremely successful. At the 2012 World official Paracanoe World Championships in Championships Great Britain dominated the conjunction with the Canoe Sprint World event to top the medal table for the first time, Championships in Poznan, . This with five gold and one bronze medal, ensuring competition also saw the introduction of the British Canoeing secured significant UK Sport current 12 events and the initial classification National Lottery funding for the four year cycle system. With 28 National Federations to Rio (2.3M). competing from five continents, this led to the confirmation in December 2010 that paracanoe Despite the rapid growth and improving would gain inclusion into the 2016 Paralympics. standards at world level, Great Britain has Since then the sport has gone from strength to maintained its position as the world’s leading strength, with both the number of participants nation since 2012, most recently winning six and the level of performance increasing medals (2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze) at the significantly. 2016 World Championships in Duisburg.

In international competition the two types of The six Paralympic team members have won paracanoe boats used are kayaks, propelled by an impressive 23 World Championships medals a double-blade paddle, and canoes and 16 European Championship medals called va’as where the boat has a second between them. Of the 16 World Championship ‘pontoon’ called an ama as a support float. titles won, Jeanette Chippington has won an Va’as are propelled by a single blade paddle. unprecedented nine, Emma Wiggs five and Anne Dickins two. All six team members have at In February 2015 the International Paralympic least one World Championship medal to their Committee confirmed that only kayak events name. would be included on the programme for Rio and a revised classification system was introduced. Events in the va’a boat have not been included for 2016, but it is hoped this will be reviewed for Tokyo 2020.

32 PARACANOE

Anne Dickins

2015, as a result of a two and one half year Sport overview study by the ICF. Athletes are classified Paracanoeing is a 200m race to make it to the according to their ability to move their legs and finish line before anybody else, while staying in torso, and are evaluated and scored (1 to 9) by your lane. An incredible amount of strength and ICF classifiers. The higher the number, the less power is required to accelerate to and maintain severe the athlete’s impairment is. your top speed. Your muscles scream as the lactic acid builds up – this is a huge test of mind KL1: Athletes with no or very limited trunk over body as you try to keep your pace while function and no leg function and typically need battling against fatigue. a special seat with high backrest in the kayak. Total score = 3 In Paralympic kayak competition (K1) the athletes are seated and boats are propelled by KL2: Athletes with partial trunk and leg a double-blade paddle. There are three classes function, able to sit upright in the kayak but for both men and women based on an athlete’s might need a special backrest, limited leg functional ability to paddle and apply force to movement during paddling. Total score = 4-7 the foot board or seat in order to propel the canoe. KL3: Athletes with trunk function and partial leg function, able to sit with trunk in forward flexed The Paralympic paracanoe classification of position in the kayak and able to use at least impairments was restructured in February one leg / prosthesis. Total score = 8-9

33 PARACANOE

Shaft: The narrow part of a paddle, gripped by Terminology the paddler. Athlete: Blade: The end(s) of a paddle. Spray skirts: These may not be used in Paddler: a canoeist classification or competition unless permitted by the Chief Official and due to severe water Boat: conditions. Bow: The front of the boat. Start gate: The yellow metal ‘boot’ in which the Stern: The rear of the boat. bow of the boat sits before the start of the race. Cockpit: Mid-section of the craft, in which the paddler sits. Technique Modifications: These are permitted for stability Stroke rate: The number of paddle strokes per if the boat is made slower (i.e. stabilizing minute. pontoons) Adaptation equipment is not Catch: The split second as the paddle blade regulated. It is included as part of the weight of enters the water. the boat if it is securely attached. Pull: The action that drives the boat forwards. Wash: The rough water left behind a moving Equipment boat. Wing paddle: A paddle with a curved, almost spoon-shaped blade, now used by most competitors.

Paracanoe team for ParalympicsGB in Rio 2016

34 PARACANOE

Competition schedule and venue At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games the paracanoe regatta will take place on 14 and 15th September at the iconic lake of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. With the wind blowing straight off of Copacabana beach and Christ the Redeemer overlooking the race course, Paracanoe's debut promises to be an impressive spectacle.

Session Details Session Time Events Wednesday 14 September 09.00 – 11.00 Men’s & Women’s KL1-3 Heats & Semi-finals 09:00 – 09:10 Women’s kayak single KL1 200m: Heats 09:10 – 09:20 Men’s kayak single KL1 200m: Heats 09:20 – 09:30 Women’s kayak single KL2 200m: Heats 09:30 – 09:40 Men’s kayak single KL2 200m: Heats 09:40 – 09:50 Women’s kayak single KL3 200m: Heats 09:50 – 10:00 Men’s kayak single KL3 200m: Heats 10:15 – 10:22 Women’s kayak single KL1 200m Semi-finals 10:22 – 10:29 Men’s kayak single KL1 200m Semi-finals 10:29 – 10:36 Women’s kayak single KL2 200m Semi-finals 10:36 – 10:43 Men’s kayak single KL2 200m Semi-finals 10:43 – 10:50 Women’s kayak single KL3 200m Semi-finals 10:50 – 10:57 Men’s kayak single KL3 200m Semi-finals Thursday 15 September 09.00 – 11.00 Men’s & Women’s KL1-3 Finals & Medal Ceremonies 09:00 – 09:08 Women’s kayak single KL1 200m Finals 09:08 – 09:16 Men’s kayak single KL1 200m Finals 09:16 – 09:24 Women’s kayak single KL2 200m Finals 09:24 – 09:34 Women’s kayak single KL1 200m Medal Ceremony 09:34 – 09:42 Men’s kayak single KL2 200m Finals 09:42 – 09:52 Men’s kayak single KL1 200m Medal Ceremony 09:52 – 10:00 Women’s kayak single KL3 200m Finals 10:00 – 10:10 Women’s kayak single KL2 200m Medal Ceremony 10:10 – 10:18 Men’s kayak single KL3 200m Finals 10:18 – 10:28 Men’s kayak single KL2 200m Medal Ceremony 10:28 – 10:38 Women’s kayak single KL3 200m Medal Ceremony 10:38 – 10:48 Men’s kayak single KL3 200m Medal Ceremony

N.B. All session times are correct at time of going to press but may be subject to change.

35 PARACANOE

Events in the Va’a boat have not been included Paralympic events and for Rio, but it is hoped this will be reviewed for competition format Tokyo 2020.

Six events have been included on the The Paralympic competition comprises heats competition programme in Rio. These will be and semi-finals on day one in all classifications, the kayak single (K1) 200m events in each of followed by a day of finals. the three classes for both men and women (Kayak Level 1, KL2, KL3). There will be 10 boats The number of boats that qualify for each stage in each event. of the competition is as follows:

No. of Number of: Progression from heats Progression from semi-finals boats Heats Semi-finals Finals 10 2 1 A 1st to Final; rest to SF 1st- 6th to Final, rest out

National Sprint Regatta series. The winners of Selection process the trials in each event were then nominated to Each country can only qualify one boat per the British Paralympic Association for selection event. Based on results at the 2015 World to ParalympicsGB and announced on Tuesday Championships, Great Britain qualified four 14 June 2016 as follows: of the six available athlete quota places in women’s KL1, KL2, KL3 and men’s KL3. The final • Women’s K1 200m KL1 - Jeanette two quota places in the men’s K1 200m KL1 Chippington and KL2 were then secured at the 2016 World • Women’s K1 200m KL2 - Emma Championships in Duisburg. Wiggs • Women’s K1 200m KL3 - Anne Dickins To select the athletes to compete at Rio 2016, • Men’s K1 200m KL1 - Ian Marsden British Canoeing held its own Paralympic • Men’s K1 200m KL2 - Nicholas selection trials at the National Water Sports Beighton Centre in Nottingham on 4 June as part of the • Men’s K1 200m KL3 – Robert Oliver

36 PARACANOE

occasions since 2012, she got narrowly beaten Ones to watch earlier this year by Germany’s Edina Müller and Current World Champions is working hard to reclaim the top spot in Rio, which would mark an incredible 20 years since Class World Championships – Duisburg 2016 she won Paralympic gold. It will certainly be an Men K1 1. Xiaowei Yu CHN enticing head-to-head in Rio. 200m KL1 2. Jakub Tokarz POL Australia’s Curtis McGrath also broke new 3. Luis Carlos Cardoso Da Silva BRA ground at the 2016 World Championships Men K1 1. Curtis McGrath AUS and managed to overhaul six-time champion Markus Mendy Swoboda (AUT) in the men’s 200m KL2 2. Markus Mendy Swoboda AUT KL2. This is a reversal of positions from last 3. Nicholas Beighton GBR season’s championships and adds further Men K1 1. Tom Kierey GER intrigue to the sport's debut Paralympic 200m KL3 2. Serhii Yemelianov UKR showdown. Great Britain’s Nick Beighton, who claimed his first podium finish this year in KL2 3. Leonid Krylov RUS will also be aiming to be in the mix for the Women K1 1. Edina Müller GER medals in this event. 200m KL1 2. Jeanette Chippington GBR Great Britain’s Emma Wiggs is a strong 3. Alexandra Dupik RUS contender in the women’s KL2, with five world Women K1 1. Emma Wiggs GBR titles to her name. Teammate Nikki Paterson, 200m KL2 who claimed silver at the last two World 2. Nicola Paterson GBR Championships in this class, has to sit the 3. Susan Seipel AUS Paralympics out due to the one boat per nation Women K1 1. Anne Dickins GBR rule, which will certainly open up the field. 200m KL3 2. Amanda Reynolds AUS Meanwhile Anne Dickins (GBR), who managed 3. Mihaela Lulea ROU to edge ahead of the 2015 world champion, Amanda Reynolds (AUS), to take her second Great Britain has an extremely strong track world championships gold in the women’s KL3 record at World Championships and the this year will undoubtedly face another stiff team will hope to make their mark at the contest. first Paralympic Games for paracanoe this year. However the athletes are under no Ian Marsden (KL1) and Rob Oliver (KL3), illusion that it will be tough and the standard both world silver medallists and European of international competition has been rising champions over recent years, will also be steadily over the last few years. Australia will striving to get back on the podium in Rio. be the only other country with entries in all six Amongst others, Marsden will have to take on events. the local favorite Luis Da Silva from Brazil, whilst Oliver will have a fierce battle of his own in one Jeanette Chippington is a 12 time Paralympic of the most competitive classes of the regatta. medallist in and makes her return to Paralympic competition after a 12 year absence, this time in paracanoe. Having won the KL1 world title on four consecutive

37 PARACANOE

Paracanoe and canoe sprint venue Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas

The venue getting ready for the Games

38 PARACANOE: GB PARALYMPIC TEAM

Jeanette CHIPPINGTON Class/Distance: Paracanoe - Women’s K1 200m KL1

Jeanette is a significant force at world level in the women’s K1 200m KL1, winning the world title on four consecutive occasions until 2016 when she took silver. She is also a double European Champion at this event winning in 2014 and 2015. Previously she has also won gold at the World and European Championships in the Women’s V1A 200m. Having qualified the Paralympic quota place for GB at the 2015 World Championships, Jeanette won both KL1 selection races Date of Birth: 21/04/1970 (46) at the British Canoeing Paralympic selection trials to secure her Born: Taplow, Buckinghamshire own place on Paralympics GB in Rio, where paracanoe will make Hometown: Maidenhead, Berkshire its debut. Lives: Maidenhead, Berkshire Training venue: Dorney Lake, Berkshire Jeanette is an outstanding athlete having already competed Occupation: Swimming Teacher / Coach as a swimmer at five consecutive Paralympic Games; Seoul, Height / weight 1.62m / 52kg Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, winning a total of 12 medals. Atlanta 1996 was her most successful Games where she Paralympic Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Games: Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, won 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals and broke two world Athens 2004 (Swimming) records. Disability: Transverse Mylitis Jeanette first learnt to swim as part of physiotherapy after Paddling since: 2011 contracting a virus and only started canoeing when a friend Club: Longridge Canoe Club nagged her. She is also a wife and mum of two children. Coach: John Griffiths Boat: Plastex / Tvanui Major results Paddles: Jantex ¡¡ 2004 Athens Paralympic Games: 4x50m freestyle relay 20pts – 2nd Sponsors: CRL Fire and Flood, Molly Maid ¡¡ 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games: 4x100m medley relay 34pts – 2nd, Lottery Funding: UK Sport Podium Programme 50m freestyle S6 – 3rd, 100m freestyle S6 – 3rd, 4x50m medley relay Hobbies: Swimming, travelling, reading 20pts – 3rd ¡¡ 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games: 100m freestyle S6 – 1st, 4x50m freestyle relay S1-6 – 1st, 50m freestyle S6 – 2nd, 200m freestyle S6 – 3rd, 4x50m medley relay S1-6 – 3rd ¡¡ 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games: 4x50m medley relay S1-6 – 3rd ¡¡ 1988 Seoul Paralympic Games: 100m backstroke L4 – 2nd

¡¡ 2016 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 200m KL1 – 2nd ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K1 200m KL1 – 1st ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, Racice: K1 200m KL1 – 1st ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Championships, Moscow: K1 200m A – 1st, V1 200m A – 1st ¡¡ 2014 ECA European Championships, Brandenburg: K1 200m A – 1st, V1 200m A – 1st ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 200m A – 1st, V1 200m A – 1st, V1 200m TA – 1st ¡¡ 2013 ECA European Championships, Montemor-o-Velho: V1 200m LTA – 1st ¡¡ 2012 ICF World Championships, Poznan: K1 200m A – 1st, K1 200m TA – 1st, V1 200m LTA – 1st

39 PARACANOE: GB PARALYMPIC TEAM

Anne DICKINS Class/Distance: Paracanoe – Women’s K1 200m KL3

Anne is the 2016 World Champion in K1 200m KL3, her second world title. She is also the 2015 European Champion, retaining the title since 2013. Having qualified the Paralympic quota place for GB at the 2015 World Championships, Anne won both KL3 races at the British Canoeing Paralympic selection trials to secure her own place on Paralympics GB in Rio, where paracanoe will make its debut. Four years ago Anne had never sat in a canoe and would even Date of Birth: 20/02/1967 (49) go so far as to say she hated boats due to terrible seasickness. Born: Glasgow But after a back injury preventing her from racing her mountain Hometown: Oxted bike, she volunteered at the London 2012 Olympics. A Lives: Oxted chance meeting there ended up with an invitation to try for Training venue: Dorney Lake, Berkshire GB paracanoe squad selection. She saw her weak leg and Occupation: Physiotherapist / Athlete seasickness as a challenge, not an obstacle, so accepted the offer Height / weight 1.72m / 69kg and has never looked back. Disability: Neurological weakness in her right leg following a serious Anne hopes her story of hope, belief and achievement inspires back injury in 2011. others. She believes that ordinary people are able to do Paddling since: 2012 extraordinary things; all you need is to want ‘it’ (a lot), and to Club: Wey Kayak Club surround yourself by positive and talented people, and then anything is possible. Coach: John Griffiths Boat: Plastex Anne is a Mum of two children and works as a physiotherapist. Paddles: Jantex Sponsors: Natterbox, Mammoth Major results Mattresses ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 200m KL3 – 1st Lottery Funding: UK Sport Podium Programme ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K1 200m KL3 – 2nd Hobbies: Mountain biking, photography, ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, Racice: K1 200m KL3 – 1st travel ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Championships, Moscow: K1 200m LTA – 1st Website www.annedickins24.blogspot. ¡¡ 2014 ECA European Championships, Brandenburg: K1 200m LTA – 1st com ¡ ¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 200m LTA – 2nd Twitter: @anne200solo ¡¡ 2013 ECA European Championships, Montemor-o-Velho: K1 200m LTA – 1st

40 PARACANOE: GB PARALYMPIC TEAM

Emma WIGGS Class/Distance: Paracanoe - Women’s K1 200m KL2

Emma is a four times world champion in the women’s K1 200m KL2 class, most recently claiming gold in Duisburg at the 2016 World Championships and she is also the 2015 European silver medallist in the same event. Having qualified the Paralympic quota place for GB at the 2015 World Championships, Emma won both races at the British Canoeing Paralympic selection trials to secure her own place on Paralympics GB in Rio, where paracanoe will make its debut. Date of Birth: 14/06/1980 (36) Born: Harrow, Middlesex Emma represented Great Britain in the GB Sitting Hometown: Diseworth, Derbyshire Team for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. After the Games Lives: Loughborough she embarked on a mission to find a sport that would give her Training venue: National Water Sports Centre, a chance to be the best she could be and found canoeing was Nottingham the answer. Occupation: Teacher & Athlete Mentor for Emma grew up in Watford and throughout her schooling was Youth Sport Trust / Athlete very active, excelling at hockey. When she was 18, she went Height / weight 1.57m / 55kg on a GAP year to Australia and contracted a virus that initially Paralympic London 2012 - Sitting Volleyball paralysed her and left her with irreparable damaged nerves in Games: her legs. Disability: Nerve damage in her legs Paddling since: 2013 Despite this life changing event Emma was determined to Club: Independent pursue her chosen career as a PE teacher; studying Sports Coach: Colin Radmore Science and gaining a PGCE in secondary PE, she started work in Boat: Plastex West Sussex in 2004. Paddles: Bracsa Prior to the IPC announcing the Paralympic events for Rio, Lottery Funding: UK Sport Podium Programme Emma paddled in both kayak and Va’a boats and was the 2014 Hobbies: Cooking, camping World Champion in Va’a. Twitter: @emwiggsy Major results ¡¡ 2012 London Paralympic Games: Sitting Volleyball: 8th

¡¡ 2016 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 200m KL2 – 1st ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K1 200m KL2 – 1st ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, Racice: K1 200m KL2 – 2nd ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Championships, Moscow: K1 200m TA – 1st, V1 200m TA – 1st ¡¡ 2014 ECA European Championships, Brandenburg: K1 200m TA – 2nd, V1 200m: TA – 1st ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 200m TA – 1st ¡¡ 2013 ECA European Championships, Montemor-o-Velho: K1 200m TA – 1st

41 PARACANOE: GB PARALYMPIC TEAM

Nick BEIGHTON Class/Distance: Paracanoe - Men’s K1 200m KL2

Previous to his sporting career, Nick was a Captain in the Royal Engineers of the British Army. In 2009, while in Afghanistan, he stood on an explosive device and lost both of his legs. Nick competed in at the London 2012 Paralympics coming 4th in the TAMix2x class before he transitioned to British Canoeing in 2014.

He competed at the 2016 World Championships, coming 3rd in Date of Birth: 29/09/1981 (34) the K1 200m KL2 to qualify a quota place for Great Britain Born: Stockport at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, where paracanoe will Hometown: Shrewsbury makes its debut. Nick won both his KL2 races at the British Lives: Mimsterley, Shropshire Canoeing Paralympic selection trials to secure his own place on Training venue: National Water Sports Centre, Paralympics GB. Nottingham Occupation: Athlete Major results Height / Weight: 1.95m ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 200m KL2 – 3rd Paralympics: London 2012 (Rowing) ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K1 200m KL2 – 9th Paddling since: 2014 ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, Racice: K1 200m KL2 – 6th Club: Shropshire Paddlesports Coach: Matt Lawrence Boat: Plastex Paddles: Jantex Lottery Funding: UK Sport Podium Potential Programme

42 PARACANOE: GB PARALYMPIC TEAM

Ian MARSDEN Class/Distance: Paracanoe - Men’s K1 200m KL1

Ian attended a talent ID day for Paracanoe in late 2012 where he was selected for the programme. He has since excelled, becoming a medallist at both European and World Championships since 2013. He is the 2015 European Champion and 2014 World silver medallists in K1 200m KL1. Having qualified the Paralympic quota place for GB at the 2016 World Championships, Ian won both KL1 races at the British Canoeing Paralympic selection trials to secure Date of Birth: 25/01/1972 (44) his own place on Paralympics GB in Rio, where paracanoe will Born: Stafford make its debut. Hometown: Stoke-on-Trent Lives: Stoke-on-Trent Ian started out as an able-bodied athlete representing Team GB Training venue: National Water Sports Centre, at Powerlifting and is a former European and World Powerlifting Nottingham Champion and holder of three world records. After a sporting Occupation: Microbiologist / Athlete accident in 1992, he became disabled and a wheelchair user. Height / weight 1.70m / 68kg After a long spell in hospital, he discovered handcycling Disability: Spinal injury and went on to race on the European handcycling circuit Paddling since: 2011 and became the first British male to win a podium position. Club: Trentham Canoe Club However he developed problems with his neck and required Coach: Matt Lawrence extensive surgery. Whilst in hospital tests discovered he had a Boat: Plastex rare motor neuron condition which affected parts of his body. Paddles: Jantex Ian then moved on to Target Shooting and the 10m air rifle Sponsors: Wessex, Lifestyle Fitness and was put on the fast track programme for London 2012, Lottery Funding: UK Sport Podium Programme but further complications with his health meant he was not fit Hobbies: Cycling, photography, travelling, enough to compete. motor sports Website: www.ianmarsden.com Major results Twitter: @IanMarsdenGB ¡¡ 2016 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 200m KL1: 4th ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, Racice: K1 200m KL1 – 1st ¡¡ 2014 ICF World Championships, Moscow: K1 200m A – 2nd ¡¡ 2014 ECA European Championships, Brandenburg: K1 200m A – 1st ¡¡ 2013 ICF World Championships, Duisburg: K1 200m A – 2nd ¡¡ 2013 European Championships, Montemor-o-Velho: K1 200m A – 2nd

43 PARACANOE: GB PARALYMPIC TEAM

Rob OLIVER Class/Distance: Paracanoe - Men’s K1 200m KL3

Rob has already achieved a lot in the past few years, going from someone who had never set foot inside a kayak to becoming the 2015 European Champion in his class K1 200m KL3. He went on to win silver at the 2015 World Championships and qualified the quota place for Great Britain for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio where paracanoe will make its Paralympic debut. Rob won both KL3 races at the British Canoeing Paralympic selection trials to secure his own place on Paralympics GB. Date of Birth: 14/01/1988 (28) Rob is a talented sportsman; after a spell as a weightlifter he Born: Birmingham played football at a variety of levels from 13-19. However in Hometown: Yardley Wood / Birmingham 2008 he broke his leg during a match and 17 operations and Lives: Birmingham nine months later he had his leg amputated due to medical Training venue: National Water Sports Centre, negligence. He was only 20 years old and up until that point had Nottingham always been very active, he felt like this area of his life had come Occupation: Aerospace Engineer / Athlete to an end, until he found kayaking in 2011. Once he realised Height / weight 1.72m / 72kg he could still take part in competitive sport as an amputee he Disability: Lower leg amputee decided to dedicate his life to becoming the very best. Paddling since: 2011 Club: Solihull Canoe Club Major results Coach: Colin Radmore ¡¡ 2015 ICF World Championships, Milan: K1 200m KL3 – 2nd Boat: Plastex ¡¡ 2015 ECA European Championships, Racice: K1 200m KL3 – 1st Paddles: Braca ¡ ¡ 2013 ECA European Championships, Montemor-o-Velho: Sponsors: Village Urban Resorts, Velocity K1 200m LTA – 3rd Gyms, Overboard, Blatchford Lottery Funding: UK Sport Podium Programme Hobbies: PS3(FIFA), football, DIY/ house renovations, cinema, go-karting, spending time with friends and family Website: www.robertolivergb.com Twitter: @robertoliverGB

44 THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM

Canoe slalom Accredited staff in Rio

John Anderson MBE Team Leader Paul Ratcliffe Head Coach Mark Delaney Coach (C1M & C2M) John Anderson Paul Ratcliffe Mark Ratcliffe Coach (K1M & K1W) Kathryn Edwards Physiotherapist Yiannis Konstantonis Performance Analyst Katriona Bush Media & PR Manager

Support staff in UK

Marc Domenjo Coach Mark Delaney Mark Ratcliffe Craig Morris Coach Gareth Wilson Coach David Dunne Nutritionist Emma Groome Performance Lifestyle Hugh Mantle Psychologist Katie Warriner Psychologist Leigh Williams Strength & Conditioning Coach David Whiffen Performance Analyst Julie Betcher Logistics Officer Janice Lenihan Programme Administrator Lee Valley

Canoe sprint Accredited staff in Rio

John Anderson MBE Team Leader Alex Nikonorov Head Coach Miklos Simon Coach Alex Nikonorov Miklos Simon Robi De Performance Analyst Patrick Harding Physiotherapist Katriona Bush Media & PR Manager

Support staff in Rio

Alan Williams International Teams Manager Justine Willmott Performance Operations Manager Katie Warriner Psychologist Dave Thomas Data Engineer/Performance Innovations Mick Mazonowicz Start Gate Technician

45 THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM

Support staff in UK

Trevor Hunter Coach Rob Sleeth Coach David Dunne Nutritionist Emma Groome Performance Lifestyle Tom Hull Strength & Conditioning Coach Katherine Moore Physiotherapist Simon Rutland Dorney Lake Operations Dawn Keall Logistics Officer

Paracanoe Accredited staff in Rio

Steve Harris Team Leader John Griffiths Coach Matt Lawrence Coach Steve Harris John Griffiths Colin Radmore Coach Tom Hignett Physiotherapist Luke Sweet Strength & Conditioning Coach Katriona Bush Media & PR Manager

Support staff in Rio

Steve Train Coach Jonathan Smith Psychologist Matt Lawrence Colin Radmore

Support staff in UK

David Dunne Nutritionist Emily Hunton Performance Lifestyle

Support staff working across all three programmes

Andy Maddock Programme Director Operations Heather Williams Talent Pathway Manager Mike Chandler Coaching Development Manager Katie Orman Performance Co-ordinator Annie Evans Performance Administration Assistant Carole Hanrahan Finance Manager Helen Bowen Finance Assistant

PHOTO CREDITS: AE Photos; Balint Vekassy; onEdition; Andy Maddock; Paul Ratcliffe Media guide edited by: Katriona Bush. Published July 2016 © British Canoeing

46 CANOEING A NEW WORLD AWAITS!

Getting involved in canoeing can take you anywhere you want to go; from tranquil days out exploring the waterways and surrounding countryside to white water adventures and endurance challenges.

wwww.g.gocanoeingweek.oocannooeingweeek.orgrg.

“Canoeing has taken me all the way to the Olympics. Who knows where it might take you?” David Florence, Double Olympic Silver Medallist, Three Times World Champion

www.britishcanoeing.org.uk WWW.BRITISHCANOEING.ORG.UK

/BRITISHCANOEING

/BRITISHCANOEING

/BRITISH.CANOEING

British Canoeing, National Watersports Centre Holme Pierrepont, Adbolton Lane, Nottingham NG2 5AS Tel: +44 (0)115 982 2094