Paddlers to Begin 2012 World Cup Campaign in Poznan

Canoe Sprint paddlers are headed to Poznan, Poland this week to launch their World Cup campaign and what could be their final attempt to be selected for a place on their respective national Olympic teams. The event which follows directly after the 2012 ICF Paracanoe World Championships and the European Olympic Qualifiers will take place on the Malta Regatta Course and will begin on Friday, 18 May. All three events are expected to draw over 1000 athletes from 73 countries from all over the world.

Current and former World Champions such as Adam Van Koeverden (CAN), Max Hoff (GER), Eirik Veraas Larsen (NOR), Ben Fouhy (NZL), Lisa Carrington (NZL), Yvonne Schurring and Viktoria Schwartz (AUT) have all confirmed their participation. The first World Cup of the season is usually used by athletes to gauge their fitness level alongside that of their competitors, while this remains the same, this year the stakes are even higher because it’s an Olympic year.

Three time world champion Max Hoff (GER) said, "The victory at the German National Championships was a very important step in the right direction, but I hope to improve my performance at the World Cup race in Poznan. I know that the international events are more competitive and it will be much harder to claim victory."

Viktoria Schwarz (AUT) one half of the already Games qualified duo Schwarz and Schurring said "Yvonne and I will use the Poznan World Cup to continue our training and that’s why we will start all three distances in the K2 category. Our focus remains on the Olympic Games and there is still a long way head for us in terms of training."

Norway’s medallist at three Olympic Games, Eirik Veraas Larsen added, "I'm looking forward to race in Poznan. It's been a good fall, winter and spring for me, no injuries and a lot of training. I fell better prepared than last year and I'm eager to see what place I can get this early in the season."

Paddlers to look out for:

Kayak Men

The Men’s K1 1000m event will be tight as it will include a line-up of former and current world champions. Adam Van Koeverden (CAN), Tim Brabant (GBR), Ben Fouhy (NZL) and Eirik Veraas Larsen (NOR). They will be up against hometown favourites Marcin Nickowski, Olszewski Tomasz who will have home crowd support.

Brabants whose place at his home Olympic Games depends on both the results he posts as well as his main challenger and teammate Paul Wycherley, told the BBC last week, "It will be one of us who goes to the Olympics, hopefully it'll be one of us on the podium. I think it will be me if I'm honest!"

Wycherley later added, "I am in absolutely no doubt that Tim is in fine form this year and a fantastic athlete, and in my mind the best 1000m paddler in the world.

Canoe Men

In the C1 1000m, Sebastian Brendel (GER) is the man to beat as he topped the ICF World Cup Series last year in Men’s Canoe but will face tight competition from Ivan Shtyl (RUS) who came in second place in the Series and Mathieu Goubel (FRA) in the C1 200m.

Women’s Kayak

With many new boat entries, but few new faces, the Women’s K2 500m & 1000m will be a battle between Austria’s K2 500m Szeged world champions Schurring/Schwarz and the take on the 22 year old K1 200m world champion Lisa Carrington and boat partner Erin Taylor (NZL). The Szeged K1 200m silver medallist Marta Walczykiewicz (POL) will also be in the mix of things as will Teaneale Hatton (AUS) who will be in good form coming off her good performances in the off-season. Bridgitte Hartley will be looking to get her Olympic Games campaign in full swing having qualified for the K1 500m in Szeged last year.

The European Olympic Qualifiers in Poznan will be held alongside the ICF Paracanoe World Championships (16-17), the Championships and the Qualifiers will be followed by the Canoe Sprint World Cup I (18 – 20 May).

Commenting on the challenges of hosting three events in four days, Polish Canoe Federation President Józef Bejnarowicz said, "Hosting one event for any Organising Committee is a challenge, hosting three events in four days is not any easier, but I know that the International Canoe Federation entrusted us with these events because they know our capabilities and our standards.

"Our experience is more than 20 years of organizing competitions at the Malta Regatta Course in Poznan, including Senior World Championships in years 1990, 2001 and 2010 and also several World Cups and European Championships - I am sure that all the athletes and officials will be happy with the good arrangements that have been put in place."

Along with the European Olympic Qualifiers the World Cup in Poznan will be one of the last opportunities for athletes to be nominated to their Olympic Team and many TV broadcasters including Eurosport will be televising the event fueling the public’s interest in Canoeing, Olympic qualification and London 2012.

For more information, please contact ICF Media:

Tel: +41 21 612 0290 e-mail: media@canoeicf.com, or visit our web site at www.canoeicf.com.

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

20 Years at #1: