The dreams of two local paddlers came true on Tuesday after they were selected by the Australian Olympic Committee in the Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024.
29-year-old Tim Anderson and 25-year-old Tristan Carter will both make their Olympic debuts in Paris in July in the Men’s K1 and C1 events respectively.
With multiple top-10 finishes in international competition over the past 12 months, the duo will join Jessica Fox, who was already selected to contest her fourth Olympics.
Former Australian Olympic cyclist turned Chef de Mission Anna Meares was on hand at Penrith Whitewater Stadium to deliver the exciting news.
“Getting named to your first Australian Olympic Team is a special moment and I’m thrilled to announce Tim and Tristan as the newest members of Australia’s Team for Paris,” she said.
“So much goes into those 100 seconds flying down the whitewater course – the gym, training analysis, spending months of the year travelling and competing to hone their craft. All of the dedication and choices Tim and Tristan have made have led them here, to represent Australia at the Paris Olympics.”
Anderson, who moved to Penrith from Victoria aged 18 to pursue his slalom passion, has enjoyed a breakthrough last 12 months, including top five finishes at the World Championships as well as being crowned Oceania champion last month.
“It’s an amazing feeling… I’m struggling to put it into words,” Anderson said of his selection.
“It’s a little bit overwhelming knowing I’m going to the Olympics. I’ve dreamt about it since I was a little boy watching the Athens Games on TV at home.
“I moved here 11 years ago and put my heart and soul into qualifying for this spot.”
Fellow Victorian Tristan Carter has also made a home for himself at the foot of the Mountains and earlier this month took out the Australian Open right here in Penrith.
The canoeist said he’s been working towards his Olympic dream every day for a decade.
“Being able to stand here with this ticket in my hand, so much work has gone into this,” Carter said.
“This means everything to me. I put everything into this sport. Every time I’ve represented Australia I’ve done it with great honour, and the magnitude of doing it at an Olympics goes up another notch.”
Tokyo Olympic gold medallist and Penrith legend Jessica Fox was also on hand to congratulate her new teammates on their selection.
“It’s wonderful to welcome Tim and Tristan onto the team,” she said.
“It’s a small [paddling] team but it’s really special to be on this journey with them to Paris.”
Australia has further chances to earn quotas in the new Olympic event of Kayak Cross, with Noemie Fox considered a good chance to feature in her first Games.
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender’s Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.
