Paris Olympics 2024: Paddlers Tristan Carter, Tim Anderson in Australian canoe slalom team

Relocating from Melbourne to NSW and working a series of jobs has finally proved worth it for Australia’s latest Olympians who have booked their tickets to Paris.

Their post race reaction could not have been more different - one couldn’t stop crying and the other couldn’t quit smiling - but canoe slalom paddlers Tristan Carter and Tim Anderson still have plenty in common, including a ticket to the Paris Olympics.

Paddler Tristan Carter moved away from family and friends in Melbourne to Penrith in his attempt to race for Australia at an Olympic Games and on Tuesday saw his childhood dream realised when confirmed to race the C1 in Paris.

Tim Anderson, who raced the K1, did exactly the same, relocating from Eltham in Melbourne to pursue his dream of being an Olympian.

Paris bound paddler Tristan Carter. Picture: Supplied

The pair, who also both missed out on Tokyo Olympic selection, were rewarded for their dedication and sacrifice when named as the sixth and seventh athletes on the 2024 Australian team alongside Olympic paddling champion Jessica Fox, marathon swimmer Chelsea Gubecka, sailor Breiana Whitehead and sport climbers Campbell Harrison and Oceania MacKenzie.

Like Harrison and Whitehead the paddling pair are Olympic debutants.

Carter, who admits he wears his heart on his sleeve and is highly emotional, couldn’t stop crying when he realised just over a week ago that he had done everything to qualify himself for Paris with a memorable performance at the Australian Open.

“I love Australia. It’s the best country in the world. I’m very patriotic so this means the world,’’ said Carter, who works in a sport store unpacking boxes and also roasts coffee at Penrith to help support himself.

Tim Anderson will make his debut in Paris. Picture: Supplied

“To represent Australia means everything to me. It’s the Olympics, it’s the biggest sporting event in the world and to put the green and gold on … it’s massive.

“It’s going to be amazing to wear with honour the Australian uniform.’’

A cool and calm Anderson was equally as happy when he realised he would also be going to Tokyo where he could potentially also race the new kayak cross event Fox is hoping younger sister Noemie will also qualify for in June.

Anderson, who started paddling on the Yarra river because his brother did it on a school program at Eltham College, boasts a Bachelor of Engineering (biomedical) and Bachelor of Science degree and like Carter also works to help pay his way in the Horizen Lines canoe shop at Penrith near the whitewater centre used at the Sydney Olympics.

Anderson also knits.

“I just found it really relaxing. I really like it,’’ he said.

“It gets me out of my head sometimes.”

Australia’s slalom paddlers have won a gold, three silver and two bronze medals in the Olympic arena - with the majority snared by Tokyo gold and bronze medallist Fox.

Robin Bell, who won a bronze at the Beijing Olympics, is the only male to pick up a medal with Danielle Woodward (1992) and Jacqueline Lawrence both winning silver (1998).