The New Zealand Olympic Committee has confirmed today the selection of Rotorua-based canoe slalom paddlers Mike Dawson (25) and Luuka Jones (23) to the New Zealand Olympic Team to London 2012. Dawson becomes the first New Zealander to represent New Zealand in mens canoe slalom since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. The selection announcement follows strong performances from the two athletes confirming their spots inside the world top 16 in their sport and meeting the tough New Zealand Olympic Committee criteria. Jones and Dawson will compete in K1W and K1M respectively. Dawson, who has been training Kiwi-style in the rapids on the Kaituna River in lieu of a more suitable artificial course in New Zealand qualified New Zealand as 11th ranked Nation at the 2011 World Championships in Slovakia in September. Jones now heads to her second Olympic Games, having been the first New Zealand woman to represent New Zealand in her sport at Beijing as a teenager where she finished 21st. She recorded a second place at this weekends New Zealand Open Canoe Slalom Championships and qualified New Zealand as the 14th ranked nation in K1M in Slovakia. Both athletes have spent a number of seasons in Europe competing in World Cup events. Its awesome, said a delighted Dawson today on hearing the news. Four years ago before Beijing, I was close, but not quite there and I missed the spot. Since then Ive spent a lot of time overseas, competing with athletes who are consistently in the top ten in the world. The only way I could catch them was to be open to their training styles and race techniques and adapt them for my own purposes. Huge support from my parents, some great sponsorships and adopting international families to help with off-season accommodation, transport and training partnerships have enabled me to qualify for London. Jones said she has also relied on Kiwi charm to help her out on the European circuit and is looking forward to approaching the London Olympics as a strong performing athlete. I was young at Beijing and today Im a totally different athlete. I travel overseas to compete every year, Ive halved my body fat and Im stronger. Im training smarter and my techniques improved. Kereyn Smith, Secretary General of the New Zealand Olympic Committee and head Olympic selector is confident the pair will make New Zealand proud. I am delighted to name these two outstanding athletes to the Olympic Team, she said. While we have a tradition of fielding strong teams in water-based sports, canoe slalom has remained largely on the fringe. Both Mike and Luuka are changing that and have demonstrated they are at a level with the worlds best. Canoe Slalom New Zealand President Malcolm Gibb says Dawson and Jones have put themselves in the frame for selection. Its been down to determination, hard work and self-funding, said Gibb. Were tremendously happy for them and their selection into the team provides access to more secure funding. Official selection to the New Zealand Olympic Team means Jones and Dawson have secured HPSNZ contestable funds necessary to run their Olympic campaigns. Jones and Dawson now head to Sydney to race and train on the Sydney Olympic Games course before transferring to Europe for World Cup racing and time on the London Slalom course. Canoe Slalom takes place at Lee Valley White Water Centre from July 29 August 2 2012. Canoe Slalom NZ will look to qualify an additional spot at the Olympic Games for New Zealand in the C1 (kneeling canoe, single blade) in Penrith, NSW in February. New Zealand has sent just three athletes to Olympic Games in canoe slalom in the past. They are Owen Hughes, Atlanta 1996; Donald Johnston, Barcelona 1992 and Luuka Jones, Beijing 2008. The New Zealand team now consists of fourteen athletes including twelve sailors and two from canoe slalom. Selection announcements will continue through to July 2012.
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