Cno: How Aust canoeing turned fortunes around

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2004
Cno: How Aust canoeing turned fortunes around

Australia has laid claim to being one the top three kayaking nations in the world.

Spearheaded by dual silver medallist NATHAN BAGGALEY, the sport has managed a stunning
reversal of fortunes to mount its most successful Olympic campaign since 1992.

Last year's world championships were the worst in 20 years for Australia.

But paddlers and coaches worked furiously to prepare for the notoriously difficult
European championships in Poland in May, their last chance to qualify for Athens.

They ended up sending an 11-strong team to Athens.

BAGGALEY -- a Byron Bay surf lifesaver -- won a silver medal in his favourite event,
the K1 500, and also got silver with CLINT ROBINSON in the K2 500 at the 32-year-old veteran's
last Games.

High performance director PETER HORNE says Australia is now the third best kayaking
country in the world based on results from all the crews, including two fourths and a
sixth.

AAP RTV jb/nh/rca

KEYWORD: OLY CNO AUST (ATHENS)

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