On day four of the 2024 Paddle Australia Canoe Sprint Championships, the paddling community gathered to celebrate the announcement of the Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024.
Eleven athletes were selected for the Australian Olympic Team, including returning Olympic champions, three three-time Olympians, six Olympic debutants and a brother duo.
There was also plenty of action on the water, with the competition reaching the fourth day. But it was the first day of racing for Australia’s masters paddlers, going head-to-head over the 1000 metre course.
Wynuum Redlands’ Joel Kenny said it was a great day of paddling, getting to see the Olympic team in action and also witness the announcement for Paris 2024.
“As a spectator, it’s fantastic to watch the Olympic athletes here preparing for Paris,” Kenny said.
“It’s a world class venue, and we hope that they will be able to replicate something in Brisbane for the Olympics.
“I thought I’d enter the Masters division, while my daughter is here paddling, and give it a go, and I’m having a great time,” he said.
Manly Warringah’s Tim Newton also took the chance to race, while here supporting his son.
“It’s a special day for our family – I’m here racing in the Masters, my son is racing as well and my dad is here watching on as an 87 year old,” Newton said.
“I feel much better afterwards than I thought I would. I thought I could try as hard as I could, and I did, but at the end of the race I thought I had more to give but that’s okay because there’s more races coming up. I’ve still got a fair bit of racing to go,” he said.
For full results from day four – click here
The final day of racing at the 2024 PA Canoe Sprint Championships will get underway tomorrow at 8am AEDT. For the full schedule – click here
