‘Puzzled’, ‘confused’: Behind the scenes in the chase for the Olympics

When I tell people I am an Olympic sprint kayaker I’m often met with confusion.

WHEN I tell people I am an Olympic sprint kayaker I’m often met with confusion.

Questions as to whether I go forward or backward, puzzled looks when I explain that I don’t go down rapids and shock when I tell them that my boat is a little bit different to a fishing kayak from BCF.

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Gold Coast kayakers Alyce Wood and Alyssa Bull. Picture: CAROLYN COOPER

If you are unaware, sprint kayaking is one of the most consistently performing sports for Australia at the Olympic Games.

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We race over the distances of 200m, 500m and 1000m in singles, doubles and four person kayaks that are so skinny that I sometimes require vaseline just to wedge myself in.

With the National Centre of Excellence based in your backyard at Pizzey Park in Miami, you don’t have to look far for inspiration.

OLYMPIAN’S QUIRKY NAME CHANGE DILEMMA

Gold Coast kayakers Tom Green and Jean van der Westhuyzen. Picture: JGR IMAGES

There’s Ken Wallace, who is a three-time Olympian, and gold medallist Curtis McGrath, who was just named the Gold Coasts para-athlete of the year, and my K2 partner Alyssa Bull, who juggles her Olympic pursuits with being a firefighter.

I too have been to one Olympic Games and am a world champion, but still find myself in awe of the people I get to train with every day.

With only 140 days until the Olympic Games kick off in Tokyo it’s all systems go for us.

While our Instagram stories may paint a picture of leisure, which includes coffee dates, movie marathons and nanna naps, I promise the reality is a whole lot different.

Over the next few months I will give you an insight into our everyday lives and what’s involved in preparing for and competing at an Olympic Games. So let’s start with one of the most stressful topics of them all: Qualification.

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In a few short days (March 11-15) our National Championships will kick off in Sydney which act as our Olympic trials. Four years of blood, sweat and tears will be on the line for six male and six female Olympic tickets as well as one spot for each of the Paralympic classes.

When you line up on that start line, those next few minutes could determine your next few months. For me, it all comes down to 500m, or one minute and 50 seconds, so execution is paramount.

It can’t be that hard though, right? Left stroke, right stroke, repeat.