With nine months to go until the start of Rio 2016, canoe slalom becomes the second sporting discipline to announce athletes for the Games following the eight sailors named in September. Three of the four selected paddlers represented Team GB at London 2012, including silver medallists David Florence and Richard Hounslow who are paired together again in the men’s C2 event. Team GB’s slalom canoeists have claimed seven medals over the last six Olympic Games – one gold, five silver and one bronze – since the sport was introduced consistently into the Olympic Programme at Barcelona 1992.
So, let’s meet the team!
Home town: Edinburgh Age: 33 Event: Men’s C1 and C2 Twitter: @David_Florence Double silver medal winning Olympian David Florence will combine his specialties at Rio 2016 and compete in both the C1 and C2 classes. Florence won C1 silver at Beijing 2008 and repeated the trick alongside Richard Hounslow four years later in the C2. And the Aberdeen-born man has been on fine form since London 2012, becoming the first paddler in 60 years to win the C1 and C2 World Championship titles in the same year back in 2013. Florence, who has a degree in mathematical physics, secured the key quota places for the events at the 2015 World Championships at Lee Valley, finishing fifth in the C2 with Hounslow and winning gold in the C1. The C2 pair have been competing together since 2009 and, after a just a year of training together, won bronze medals at both the European and World Championships.
Home town: Harrow Age: 33 Event: Men’s C2 Twitter: @RichHounslow Richard Hounslow is one half of the Olympic silver medal winning C2 pair after success alongside David Florence at London 2012. The pair have been competing together since 2009 and have won three World Championship medals in that time; taking bronze in 2010, gold in 2013 and silver at the scene of their Olympic success at Lee Valley in 2015. Their 2013 triumph was the first time British C2 boat had taken a World title. Hounslow, who has a degree in sports science and management, was one of the first athletes to compete in both the men’s K1 and C2 classes.
Home town: Crieff, Perthshire Age: 32 Event: Women’s K1 Fiona Pennie is one of Britain’s most experienced women's K1 slalom kayakers and represented Team GB at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 finishing 17th.
Since missing out on London 2012, Fiona has come back stronger than ever before to have two very successful years becoming European Champion in 2013 and World Championship silver medallist in 2014.
At the 2015 World Championships at Lee Valley in September, Fiona was a finalist in the women’s K1 finishing 9th and helped the K1 women’s team to the silver medal.
Home town: Stone, Staffordshire Age: 23 Event: Men’s K1 Twitter: @joeclarkek1 Joe Clarke is only in his third season as part of the senior British team but has already made his mark on the world stage. Clarke took silver in the K1 event at the 2014 World Cup 5, his first senior international medal. The Staffordshire-born athlete won the K1 event at the 2015 Canoe Slalom Selection, resulting in his selection at the 2015 World Championships at Lee Valley where he finished 38th.