Potential Olympic newcomer Lachlan Tame is set to join gold medallists Ken Wallace, Murray Stewart and Jacob Clear on this year’s plane to Rio after the quartet teamed up to win the men’s K4 1000 final at the National Canoe Sprint Championships in Perth.
While the team still needs to be ratified by the Australian Olympic Committee, and while Australian Canoeing can change the boat combination up until the Olympics, Wallace, Stewart, Clear and Tame have earned the right to be nominated to the Olympic team.
The quartet finished 1.43 seconds ahead of Riley Fitzsimmons, Joel McKitterick, Daniel Bowker and Jordan Wood in a time of 2:54:02
Only Stewart and Clear remain from the K4 combination that won gold in London, with David Smith injured and Tate Smith serving a ban for a positive drugs test.
But Stewart believes the new combination has what it takes.
“You don’t want to talk about relief, but I think for us here there probably was a bit of relief to get it done,” Stewart said.
“I’m really excited about what this boat can do. We’re a new crew, and that’s two good races now.
“There’s a little bit to go, but it’s going well. We’re developing a race plan, we haven’t quite nailed it yet, but we’re working on a formula. We can see where we want to be, we know what we want to do.”
Wallace, who won gold in the K1 500 in Beijing, is set to go to his third Olympics, and says the excitement is just as great this time round.
“To get that win, and possibly go to a third Olympics, is pretty special,” Wallace said.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, I think it will sink in on Sunday afternoon after our last race. It doesn’t get any less exciting.”
Jake Clear is also set for this third Olympics, and said it was a relief to get today’s race done.
“I suppose there’s been a lot of tension in there for the last week or two, but it’s good to do that one and to be able to concentrate on the rest of our races knowing we’ve got that foot in the door,” he said.
“It’s a dream to get to one Olympics, but to get to three is another thing.”
Tame is set to go to his first Olympics, and revealed he had an attack of the nerves before Wednesday’s race.
“I went to the toilet five teams and I spewed up just before the race, but I didn’t tell these guys that,” Tame said.
“I had to walk down to Kenny before the race and tell him to keep talking, don’t let my mind wander.
“I’m stoked, to be with three great paddlers, and to be part of a great massive team with all the young blokes.”
Tame and Wallace have also get their sights set on qualifying in the K2 1000 event, a race in which they have won silver medals at the past two World Championships.
And Stewart is hoping to qualify as Australia’s paddler in the K1 1000, which he also competed in at the London Olympics.
Photo Credit: Sportscene.tv
