Blog posts
Ohrstrom makes swedish slalom history
When Sweden’s Isak Ohrstrom rolled at an early gate in his K1 semi-final run in Rio, he knew his Olympics were over.
And while the subsequent 50 second penalty officially killed off his Olympics, the 25-year-old was not inconsolable.
Quite the contrary – the moment he set foot in Rio he made history for his country, so he was already winning.
“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Ohrstrom said after his race.
“I was happy to be in the semi-finals, and I just tried to cut the lines a little bit too much, then what happened, happened.
“
...Read more
Mike Dawson finds that mum knows best
RIO DE JANEIRO - New Zealand paddler Mike DAWSON is hoping his second Olympic Games will be less of a family affair than his first, when his father protested his mother's awarding of a time penalty for touching a gate.
"At London 2012 I had quite a unique experience as my mum was a judge and she happened to give me a two-second penalty," DAWSON said after training at the Whitewater Stadium in Deodoro X-Park.
"I touched the pole with the back of my life jacket so I didn't think I had actually touched it. My dad, Les, who was my team manager and coach, protested...Read more
Yazawai cracks the code for absorbing pressure: become a monk!
Four years is a long time for anyone, and Japanese canoe slalom athlete Kazuki Yazawa is living proof a lot can change during an Olympic cycle.
Heading into London in 2012, his life was all about paddling. Heading to Rio things were a lot more complicated, but also a lot more peaceful.
Because Kazuki Yazawa has answered his calling, of sorts, and become a Buddhist Monk.
“London Olympics I was a professional athlete, now I am not,” Yazawa said after qualifying for the semi-finals of the K1 in Rio.
“London was big pressure for me, now is
...Read more
Estanguet hands over medal and mantle to compatriot Gargaud Chanut
RIO DE JANEIRO - Denis GARGAUD CHANUT (FRA) inherited the mantle of French canoe slalom great Tony ESTANGUET as he won France's seventh Olympic Games gold medal in the sport at Whitewater Stadium on Tuesday.
GARGAUD CHANUT held off the challenge of Matej BENUS (SVK) and Takuya HANEDA (JPN) to clock the fastest run in the men's C1 final before accepting the gold medal from presenter ESTANGUET, who won the last of his three C1 golds at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
"It was a very great moment for him to bring me this medal because there is a sort of transfer...Read more
Haneda breaks through for Asia's first Slalom medal
Four years out from the Olympics coming to his country, Japan’s Takuya Haneda has won a bronze medal, Asia’s first canoe slalom medal, in the men’s C1 in Rio.
29-year-old Haneda, who has trained out of Slovakia since he was 18-years-old, finished more than three seconds behind French gold medallist, Denis Gargaud Chanut, but less than a second behind silver medallist Matej Benus of Slovakia.
“It’s fantastic, the first medal for Asia, and for Japan so I’m very proud,” Haneda said.
“Of course I was nervous, this is the Olympics, but after the semi and...Read more
Stomach bug and best mate conspire to deny Borrows a place in C1 Final
There was heartbreak for Australia’s Ian Borrows, denied a place in the C1 Olympic canoe slalom final by his best friend on the paddling tour and pre-Games training partner.
Borrows, in his Olympic debut, finished in 11th place, one position and 0.09 seconds behind American Casey Eichfeld.
It was also revealed after the race that Borrows had been battling illness in the days leading up to the final, barely able to eat.
But post-race he wasn’t using his illness as an excuse, admitting he may well have taken 11th place if it had been offered to him...Read more
