28TH June 2009
NOTTINGHAM’S SILVER OLYMPIC MEDALLIST DAVID FLORENCE MAKES HISTORY WINNING TWO BRONZE MEDALS IN SLALOM WORLD CUP!
David Florence left and Richard Hounslow far right
David Florence today made history by being the first British athlete to win two medals in a major international competition in two individual events. Silver Olympic medallist David won a Bronze medal in his familiar Men’s C1 (canoe single) class and he also won a Bronze medal in the Men’s C2 (canoe double) class with Men’s K1 athlete Richard Hounslow, in the first World Cup of the series. There are three world cup races, running of consecutive weekends, the next race will be in Bratislava and the final one in Augsburg.
The other person that has made history today is France’s Le Fevre who won also won two medals, one in the Men’s K1 and one in the Men’s C2. When asked how he feels about today’s racing, David (originally from Edinburgh but now living in Nottingham said) said,
“It feels very special to win two medals at a world cup. It is the first time in history that anyone has won two medals in slalom. It is also the first time that I have won a medal in the C2 class and this is only the second time I have competed at this level in the C2. So it’s fantastic.” Talking about how the runs went, Florence commented,
“The runs were not perfect, for the C1 or the C2 classes, but I just held it together right until the finish line.”
Asking Florence about how his C2 colleague feels about winning a Bronze in the C2,
Florence said,
“Richard (Hounslow) is thrilled. It is his first medal in the C2 class as well, it’s just a shame that things didn’t work out for him in the Men’s K1 event.”
Team Manager John Mcleod said,
"An amazing day's paddling for David with such a strong partnership in backman Richard Hounslow. Pau's character is hefty whitewater and David adopted a style to suit. Errors meant getting washed off line and in fast water that's time never recovered.
On being congratulated between his C2 Final and C1 Final David was grinning from ear to ear, 'thanks, it felt good', he said, then still in paddling kit got on to warm up, a remarkable switch of focus."
The pair will now have lots of confidence going into the second World Cup race next weekend and the World Championships in Seu D’Urgell in September.
Selected results
Men’s C1 (canoe single)
1. GER BENZIEN Jan 102.71 0 102.71 102.71
2. SVK SLAFKOVSKY Alexander 104.54 0 104.54 104.54
3. GBR FLORENCE David 104.90 0 104.90 104.90 +2.19
Men’s C2 (canoe double)
1. SVK SKANTAR Ladislav/SKANTAR Peter 104.86 2 106.86 106.86
2. FRA LEFEVRE Fabien/GARGAUD CHANUT Denis 107.86 0 107.86 107.86 +1.00
3. GBR FLORENCE David/HOUNSLOW Richard 111.34 0 111.34 111.34 +4.48
7. GBR BAILLIE Timothy/STOTT Etienne 116.46 6 122.46 122.46 +15.60
Men’s K1 (Kayak single)
1. SLO KAUZER Peter 96.87 2 98.87 98.87
2. FRA NEVEU Boris 101.48 0 101.48 101.48 +2.61
3. FRA LEFEVRE Fabien 100.77 2 102.77 102.77 +3.90
6. GBR WALSH Campbell 104.48 0 104.48 104.48 +5.61
Athlete websites
www.davidflorence.com
www.campbellwalsh.com
World Cup Race websites
27 / 28 June World Cup 1 Pau, France http://www.paucanoe2009.com/en/?p=18
4 / 5 July World Cup 2 Slovakia, Bratislava http://www.canoebratislava.com/2009/en
11 / 12 July World Cup 3 Augsburg, Germany http://www.kanu-schwaben-augsburg.de/
Ends
For further information please contact:
Chloe Nelson on 0845 3709511 / 07794 051287 / chloe.nelson@bcu.org.uk
Unless otherwise stated, all images are the property of the British Canoe Union (BCU) and any copying or reproduction of them should be agreed in advance.
Notes to the editors:
GB Canoeing is the World Class Performance division of the British Canoe Union (BCU). It currently supports 20 UK athletes in their training and competition with the aim to win medals in significant international competitions now and within the next 4 years, particularly at the London 2012 Olympics. In the Athens Olympics, Canoeing was one of Team GB’s most successful sports with medals for Ian Wynne (Bronze), Helen Reeves (Bronze) and Campbell Walsh (Silver). In the Beijing Olympics British Canoeing became a Gold medal winning sport, with Tim Brabants (www.timbrabants.com) winning Gold and Bronze medals in flat water racing. In slalom David Florence won a Silver medal.
The aim for London 2012 is to win two Gold medals. For more information on GB Canoeing visit www.worldclass-canoeing.org.uk
The umbrella organisation, BCU, was set up in 1936 to send a team to the Berlin Olympics and is the lead body for canoeing and kayaking in the UK. In 2000 the BCU federalised to become the umbrella organisation for the Home Nation Associations in Scotland (SCA), Wales (WCA) and Northern Ireland (CANI). In England, Canoe England was set up, on a par with the other National Associations, as a division of the BCU, to support the development of canoeing in England.
The BCU is responsible for leading and setting the overall framework for the National Associations; including representing canoeing interests through coaching, competition and campaigning for increased access to Britain’s waterways for paddlers. Today the BCU has a membership of over 60,000, including over 450 affiliated clubs and 145 approved centres. According to the RYA Watersports Survey there are an estimated 1.1 million people who take to the water in a canoe each year. The vast majority do so under a watchful eye of one of the 11,000 BCU Qualified coaches or as part of an affiliated organisation. For more information visit: www.bcu.org.uk.