Canoeing: City star steers to the Olympics

Edinburgh canoeist David Florence will go for gold in two events at the London Olympics after qualifying in both the C1 and C2 slalom at the GB Trials at Lee Valley White Water Centre.

The 2008 Olympic silver medallist repeated Friday’s C1 win on Saturday, and although he and Rich Hounslow were pipped by Etienne Stott and Aberdeen’s Tim Baillie in the C2 doubles, both pairs earned places in London.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” admitted the Forth Canoe Club stalwart. “I’m going to the London Olympic Games, and that’s amazing, amazing.

“To have to do this, with all the crowd and excitement and an Olympic place to win or lose, is good preparation for London.”

In the shock of the weekend, 2004 silver medallist Campbell Walsh missed out in the K1 kayak event, and the Bridge of Allan paddler conceded: “You’ve got to win the races, and I didn’t. The Olympics was my motivation for the year and I had no thoughts past this weekend.”