Starting alongside the seasoned campaigners and full-time professionals in Monday’s women’s K1 Olympic qualifier was a 23-year-old Ukranian who had only just seen the course for the first time, had trained on flatwater, and was trying to get used to a new boat.

And while those same seasoned campaigners splashed their way into trouble on the challenging Rio course, Viktoriia Us sidled her way down the rapids, penalty free, as though it was a course in her own backyard.

Which would be nice, given that in her native Ukraine there are no slalom courses.

“The facilities are not good, just flat water with some gates,” Us said.

“We try and get to some nearby countries like Poland and the Czech Republic for training during winter, because in Ukraine in winter it is too cold. It is impossible to do training sessions on the water.”

After an incident-packed first qualifying run Us found herself sitting in tenth place. When she was unable to improve on her time in her second run, she thought her Olympics was over.

In fact, the ICF caught up with her as she walked back to her tent, convinced all the top paddlers who had floundered on their first run would get their act together and knock her out of the top 15.

“I know the form, these girls are very good,” she said when asked why she was not watching the rest of the runs.

Turns out she was wrong. Some of the big names were found wanting, and Us snuck into the semi-finals in 15th place.

Her result is a great advertisement for the ICF Talent Identification Program. Us is one of many promising athletes from areas where canoe slalom is still developing, and where the ICF is pumping resources.

“I did a lot of training camps with them, I got a lot of experience with the coaches and international paddlers,” Us said.

“It improved my paddling a lot.I started when I was about nine, but just for fun. I didn’t start seriously until I was about 14.

“And I’ve just finished University, so now I’m free and can spend more time on training sessions.”

While making an Olympic semi-final is undoubtedly a highlight of Us’s short career, getting to the Games themselves is a big milestone.

“I’m just happy that I can compete here at the Olympic Games and show good form,” she said.

“It’s good for Ukraine that I am here, it’s good for our sport.

“I just came for the Olympics. I didn’t do any training camps here before, so it was pretty hard for me. The course is new, I have a new boat that I have had for only two weeks.”

Us found herself in pretty esteemed company after the first run, joining three-time Olympians Luuka Jones of New Zealand and Corinna Kuhnle as the only athletes to post penalty-free runs.

We say penalty-free rather than error-free, as Us believes she made a few of those.

“I aimed to make it clean, to do everything correct and I did it,” she said.

“I made just small mistakes so it took a lot of time.

“I feel proud, but it is just the start. It is just a start for me and now I will try and improve everything.”

Her next chance to improve will come in an Olympic semi-final on Thursday.

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