The olympic stars shine in Duisburg

One of the most beautiful and reliable regatta courses in the world, the one of Duisburg (Germany), brought us this last weekend many great races at Sprint World Cup 2.

The great Duisburg venue (click on the image for full size)

But out of all the disciplines and distances, in Elite Kayak we have a special predilection on the K1 1.000 Men, where actually meet all those considered like “the big ones”. And not many of them usually miss the competitions, always with at least 5 or 6 first line paddlers at the start. This time, at Duisburg, we had the privilege to see a race that could be not much different from the one we will see at London Games. 

Stewart gets four golds at AUS Sprint champs, but leaves the door open for Wallace to Olympics

Stewart and Wallace winning the K2 1.000

Finished on Sunday the Australian Sprint Championships at Penrith (AUS) and there is one brilliant star upcoming: Murray Stewart earned another two golds to finish with a total of four National titles. To his victories in K1 and K4 at the 1.000, he added the K2 with Ken Wallace, and the K1 200. This last win had also another trhee "winners", as he beated in the final Joel Simpson in his only chance to get into the nominees for the Olympic team. That left Simpson without any victory, therefore Wallace and the couple Bird/Phillips, winners at the K2 200, earned the right to into de seven paddlers chosen to go for the olympic berths.

Murray Stewart, leading Australian options for the K1 1.000 at London 2012

Murray Stewart crosses the finish line at the K1 1.000

On Wednesday started at the International Regatta Centre of Penrith (AUS), the Australian Sprint Championships, valid also as second Olympic trials for the Australian national Team. And what it already looked like a complicated situation for Ken Wallace in order to take the nomination to fight for the K1 1.000 berth at London 2012 has yesterday become rather more serious. For the third time this year, Murray Stewart has beaten him at the queen of disciplines, this time with a 3.54 seconds gap that looks too much for the Beijing's Olympic Champion to close in the next few weeks. Jacob Clear took the bronze just 0.05 behind Wallace. But what it would be a superb result for 99% of the paddlers, for Wallace it's on the edge of a tragedy, as Stewart's victory, in a worldclass time of 3'30"64, means his automatic nomination at the Australian Olympic Commitee, leading now the selection to fight for the Olympic berth at this distance. On the other hand, Wallace's chances get more difficult and he should then go for the K2 or maybe to wait for a seat at the already qualified K4, taking the place of David Smith, something that doesn't look likely to happen.

Tke K1 1.000 at London, in serious risk for Ken Wallace

The Olympic champion at Beijing 2008 in K1 500, and bronce in K1 1.000, the australian Ken Wallace, sees right now how his compatriot Murray Stewart has become more than a menace to be a serious obstacle in his try to reatin his crown at London 2012. Stewart looks not to conform with a seat in the Australian K4 that already got its olympic passport at Szeged World Championships 2011, giving a step forward into the K1. This morning he has become Oceania champion in the International Regatta Centre at Penrith (AUS) with a worldclass time of  3'31"50c, with Wallace more than 5 secs behind on third position.