Slalom Boys First WA Athletes Officially Selected for London

Western Australian Institute of Sport slalom canoeing paddlers Kynan Maley and Robin Jeffery have today been confirmed as Western Australia’s first officially selected athletes for the 2012 London Olympic Games after the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) formally ratified their selection.

Maley and Jeffery will form part of Australia’s four member slalom canoeing team, with the pair set to compete together in the C2 event. Maley will also contest the men’s C1, the same event West Australian Robin Bell won bronze in at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. 

For Maley, London is a case of fourth-time lucky, having missed selection in the last three Olympics.

“I don’t even know how I felt at the end of my race,” Maley told the AOC of his results. “I felt a huge number of different emotions, especially excitement. This is the fourth time I’ve tried to qualify and the first time that I’ve actually made it.”

The seasoned campaigner will not only make his debut but will make history as the first Australian to compete in both the C1 and C2 events.

“They’ve changed the rules and this is the first Olympics where you can race in more than one boat class,” Maley explained. “For me to concentrate on C1 and C2 was the right thing to do and it has worked out better than expected. It’s actually really good doing both, they’re quite compatible, it’s just a case of getting the training right and prioritising technical sessions.”

Although Maley and Jeffery are a relatively new pairing in the C2 with only two international seasons together so far, but have showed increasing promise as a duo to watch in the Lee Valley rapids.

The Lee Valley White Water Centre will host the slalom canoe events from July 29 – August 2.

Full biographies of the slalom canoeing athletes are available on the AOC’s official website – http://london2012.olympics.com.au/athlete-search?sport=AF74E89E-5056-B04A-53E5725876A0D76B