All five Brits that competed in canoe slalom at the London 2012 Olympics have seen their places on the senior team for 2013 officially reconfirmed with performance director John Anderson now relishing the season ahead.
After two weekends of selection races Tim Baillie, Etienne Stott, David Florence, Richard Hounslow and Lizzie Neave have now been confirmed for next month’s European Championships as well as several World Cup outings.
Baillie and Stott were preselected heading into the selection races courtesy of their historic first Olympic canoe slalom gold for Britain in the C2 in London as were Florence and Hounslow who claimed silver in the same event.
Florence will also compete in the C1 having reached the semi-finals in London after winning silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympics while Neave did enough to secure her place in the K1 along with Fiona Pennie.
Neave didn’t advance past the semi-finals in the K1 at London 2012 and GB Canoeing performance director Anderson can’t wait to really get the road to the next Games in Rio in 2016 up and running.
“It has been great to be back racing on the Olympic course. We have seen some outstanding racing in all five classes, in some quite challenging cold and windy conditions,” said Anderson.
“Our Olympians, who all made the team, showed their class and ability to be consistent across the four-race series, whilst there has been some encouraging performances by youngsters coming through.
“We are now looking forward to the season and getting our campaign for Rio underway.”
© Sportsbeat 2013