Paddlers Bernie Wallace and Josie Bulmer give Australia historic C2 canoe berth for Tokyo
Australia can thank two athletes for qualifying it a place at the Tokyo Olympics in a new Olympic category on the water. For one athlete there is a constant battle against cancer to contend with.
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It’s been a whirlwind time for canoe paddlers Bernadette Wallace and Josie Bulmer with little time to reflect on their efforts to qualify Australia for its first women’s C2 (two-person canoe) berth at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
For one of the team, 30-year-old Wallace, it also has been an ongoing battle with cancer – first diagnosed in 2015 when she was living and competing on the Gold Coast.
Relocating to SA in 2018 where she joined the training program at the SA Sports Institute, Wallace was teamed with Bulmer, 23, with the aim of qualifying Australia for the Tokyo Olympics in its first ever women’s C2 500m event.
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Competing at the Oceania sprint titles at the Sydney International Regatta Centre the West Lakes Canoe Club duo booked Australia’s berth to Tokyo for the first time in the C2 500m event.
But while Australia celebrated victory in Sydney and earning the Olympic quota, Wallace and Bulmer are yet to sew up their own places on the team until they make a standard time, set by. The next and final chance for the duo will be when they compete at the national titles in Sydney (Penrith) between March 11 and 15.
Wallace of Semaphore has a burning desire to make the Olympics but she has a philosophical approach to life.
“Even though we aren’t guaranteed to make the Olympics I still dream about it
and am motivated for both me and Josie, or one of us at least, to make it,’’
Wallace said.
“I’ve had a lot going on over the years. I had a melanoma removed and luckily it hadn’t spread.
“I was warned it could be worse, maybe a 50 per cent chance of a five-year
survival. It was so scary at the time. But it’s nearly five years now and I go through
the normal processes. I’m still having my skin checked and will have more
checks very soon.
“I’ve been two Olympics but only as a spectator watching my brother Ken at
the Beijing and London games. I would love to go there as a competitor.’’
For Bulmer of West Lakes she is hopeful about making the Olympics but is
not looking too far ahead.
“It’s exciting but for us there is still a lot of hard work and training,’’ Bulmer
said.
“It will depend on the conditions on the day at the nationals, we won’t know
the time we need until we get there.’’
The SASI and West Lakes Canoe Club members could be joined in Tokyo by fellow South Australians Cat McArthur and Matt Goble, if they achieve qualifying times.
And if things don’t go Wallace’s way as far as Tokyo is concerned she will go flat out with her hobby/part time work as a graphic artist designing boats through Paddle Sports Design.
Crews around the world have the Wallace touch with unicorns, watermelons to thunderstorms adorning their boats.