GB CANOEING PRESS RELEASE
5th December 2008
TEAM GB CANOE & KAYAK 2012 HOPEFULS AUSTRALIA BOUND
Eight young canoeing athletes have been selected to represent Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) in Sydney from 14-18 January 2009.
The athletes are:
Flat Water Racing
Abigail Edmonds 18 years old from Guilford
Tom Hide 18 years old from Hampton Hill
Edward Rutherford 18 years old from Weybridge
Jessica Walker 18 years old from Hampton Hill
All four Flat Water Racers were finalists at the Junior Europeans
Slalom
Matthew Lister 16 years old from Leeds
Thomas Brady 17 years old from Stafford (part of the Slalom Academy in Nottingham)
Rhys Davies 17 years old from Aberyswth
Claire Kimberley 17 years old from Stafford (part of the Slalom Academy in Nottingham)
Jessica Walker is the current Junior European Champion in Flat Water Racing (women’s K1 1000m) and also won a Silver medal at the same competition in the Women’s K1 500m.
Also in flat water racing, Edward Rutherford is the current Junior Marathon World Champion in the non-Olympic endurance discipline of marathon racing.
Tom Hide is the current Junior Marathon World Champion in K2 with Ed Rutherford.
In slalom, Tom Brady won a Silver and Bronze medal at this year’s Junior European Championships and has since been nominated for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.
The AYOF involves athletes aged between 13-19 years old competing in 11 Olympic sports; canoe/kayak; archery, diving; equestrian; fencing, gymnastics, hockey, rowing, shooting, triathlon and volleyball (beach). 1,600 athletes representing 25 nations (including China and the United States) will compete, by invitation, at the AYOF. The event was set up by the Australian Olympic Committee as part of the legacy of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Leading Team GB at the AYOF Mark England, Chef de Mission said:
“As part of the BOA’s desire to discover future Olympic champions and provide them with the experience of participating in multi-sport events, this festival presents a fantastic opportunity for over 100 of our finest young potential Olympians to get their first taste of Olympic competition. With the London Olympic Games less than four years away, many of these athletes will be hoping to use this experience as a stepping stone to 2012.”
Anne Ferguson, Head of the Flat Water Racing Academy comments:
“Several of the athletes competing are capable of medalling at the AYOF. The AYOF is an excellent opportunity to expose younger athletes to a GB experience and the multi sport environment and travel experience is important for athlete development.”
For any media enquiries including athlete interview requests, please contact Becki Middleton of the British Olympic Association on 07884431518.
You will be able keep up to date with the latest news and results from Australia on the BOA website: http://www.olympics.org.uk/ayof09/home.aspx
ENDS