Lachie Tame and Ken Wallace win bronze medal in men’s K2 1000

KEN Wallace can enter the history books and become Australia’s greatest-ever kayaker after combining with Lachlan Tame to claim bronze in the K2-1000m sprint.

KEN Wallace can enter the history books and become Australia’s greatest-ever kayaker after combining with Lachlan Tame to claim bronze in the K2-1000m sprint final in Rio.

The Australian duo were corageous in defeat, climbing off the canvas from fourth position at the 700m before finishing third on the flat water of the spectacular Lagoa Stadium.

World champions Germany won gold, with world number three Serbia claiming silver.

Having won gold and bronze kayak medals in Beijing, Wallace’s bronze sees him equal with kayak champion Clint Robinson, who also has three Olympic medals including a gold, silver and bronze.

Wallace is striving to become the first Australian to win two Olympic kayak gold medals.

He will get that a final chance to achieve the feat and also the opportunity to take his tally to an unprecedented four medals when he joins Australia’s K4-1000m crew - the current Olympic champions - from tomorrow.

“It’s only the Olympics - winning an Olympic medal is easy,’’ Wallace said sarcastically.

“Clint Robinson is an idol that I looked up too for a long time and to even come close to that guy I’m ecstatic.

“He’s got three Olympic medals, I’ve got three Olympic medals. If I can go one better, awesome, but I’m not driven by that.

“We gave it everything we had today and we’re just stoked get on that podium and share it with our family and friends.’’

The story of Wallace and Tame is layered with reams of endearing tales of dedication, belief and old-fashioned mateship born out of a common interest - to be the best K2-1000m crew in the world.

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Remarkably, Tame only took up the sport in 2010.

A national surf-ski champion from Avoca Beach on the NSW central coast, the 27-year-old was prodded to commence kayaking when a mate bet him $5,000 that he would never make it to the Olympics.

And his mate looked safe when in Tame’s first kayak race in Adelaide, he tipped out of the boat upon his very first stroke.

But through determination and with the opportunity to sit behind former Olympic champion Wallace, Tame had the last laugh by securing a berth in an Olympic final.

He fought back his emotions as he looked down at the medal around his neck.

“To get into the final and put in a race that is worthy of a medal, is what you plan to do - it’s awesome,’’ Tame said.

“You want to be in the final and then to get a chance to win a medal, that’s all we can do.’’

In emotional scenes on the side of the lagoon, Wallace’s mother Margeret, who has battled cancer, cheered her son towards the finish line alongside an army of Aussie supporters.

Wallace’s wife Naomi and the couple’s two son’s Nixon and Bodhi were also present to witness the 33-year-old collect his third podium finish.

Prior to the race, Wallace traced the palms of his two son’s hands in gold marker-pen onto his paddle.

“I know that there with me, win, lose or draw - they’re going to love me, no matter what,’’ Wallace.

“I’m just stoked they can give me a helping hand down that course.’’

The Olympic medal was also being celebrated at the Tugan and Avoca Beach surf clubs, where Wallace and Tame spent their formative years as nippers before becoming champions of the surf.

Both surf clubs were shouting free beer throughout the final, with every chance the champagne will flow well into Friday morning.

Originally published as Lachie Tame and Ken Wallace win bronze medal in men’s K2 1000