London 2012 Olympics: Cawthorn secures place in women’s sprint kayak final

The 23-year-old won her heat in the K1 500 metres impressively and then came second in her semi-final, raising the prospect of a medal for Team GB tomorrow. Cawthorn was in fifth at  the halfway stage of her semi-final, but with the home support behind her managed to paddle up the field and qualify automatically.

But there was disappointment for Louisa Sawers, 24, and 20-year-old Abigail Edmonds, who failed to reach the final of the women’s double kayak.

Speaking after the race, Cawthorn, from Guildford, Surrey, revealed the  secret of her success was to do a couple of pilates headstands before each race.

The former European champion said: “I used to have a lucky hairband and a lucky penny but I abandoned them a couple of years ago. But before the race I do a couple of headstands. Everything is planned out to the last minute. I just do a bit of pilates before I go because it’s part of my routine. It switches on my core and prepares me to go out.”

She continued: “I put everything in to the last bit [of the race]. The crowd helped so much to keep me going at  the end. I think because I was up with everyone, I was able to come through. It feels like my own lake, like it’s my home. The crowd was awesome.”