Franklin ready to kick-off 2022 as GB gear up for European Championships

Canoe Slalom 26 May 22

Mallory Franklin will shepherd a strong British team at the European Canoe Slalom Championships in Liptovsky Mikulas this weekend.

And the Olympic silver medallist expects that her new coaching environment will give her the edge in Slovakia.

The 27-year-old switched to work under two-time Olympic medallist Richard Hounslow for the 2022 season after a ten-year stint with Craig Morris.

She said: "It's Olympic selection next year, so you're always going to want to get results. 

"I'm going into this year, and I'd love to be medalling again, but realistically it's about building that picture and that relationship and then trying to push on even further next year. 

"I'd love to come away with medals, but I paddle because I enjoy it. 

"I want to push on and learn more, and part of that was taking the step to change the environment around me."

Back in action for the season will be 2016 Rio gold medallist Joe Clarke, who is keen to knock rival JiÅ™í Prskavec off his pedestal at the upcoming championships.

Clarke missed out on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after a series of injuries in the lead up to selection and the Czech paddler has reigned supreme in his absence.

Clarke said: "It is almost like he is pioneering the way for the sport because he has now won the Olympics, he has won the worlds, he has won the European champs, so he knows exactly what to do, and he goes out consistently and performs every time. 

"The style he paddles, I would not be able to paddle that style, so it is not like I can just copy what he is doing and be as good as him or better.

"I can certainly take a few things out of his game, but it is about strengthening my game to work to my strengths so I am able to beat him.

"And I know that if I get back to that place, then it is going to be a good race."

Clarke picked up gold during the 2021 World Championships in the newly contested extreme slalom event, which will be added to the Olympic programme for Paris 2024.

And he will be joined in tackling the extreme discipline by Kimberley Woods who will be competing in the event to her already-packed programme of C1 and K1.

The younger ranks of Megan Hamer-Evans, Peter Linksted and Sophie Ogilvie are back to showcase their talent on the international senior stage after being shaped by their Olympic teammates.

Welsh paddler Hamer-Evans was left out of the Under-23 squad but found a new sense of drive to claim a space on the senior team.

She said: "Selection meant a lot to me because last year was disappointing, what with not making the Under-23. 

"So I was home a lot last summer while everyone was out abroad racing, it was quite a difficult year, so I was really set on coming back. 

"Especially with the extra senior space available, I was really focussed on getting that, so it was a lot of pressure on the weekend, but I am glad I have come out the other side of it."

Rounding off the European Championship team are Tokyo 2020 Olympians Adam Burgess and Bradley Forbes-Cryans, alongside senior paddlers Christopher Bowers and Ryan Westley.

Sportsbeat 2022

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