Emilie FOURNEL (CAN)

Mini (olympic.ca, 10 Aug 2014)

Reading, going to the beach, learning Swedish, spending time with friends. (Canadian Women's KAYAK Team's Facebook page, 25 Mar 2015)

Qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games, and competing at the 2012 Games in London with her brother Hugues. (Canadian Women's KAYAK Team's Facebook page, 25 Mar 2015)

Her parents. (Canadian Women's KAYAK Team's Facebook page, 25 Mar 2015)

When she races, she wears a shirt that her late father competed in at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. (olympic.ca, 10 Aug 2014)

"Work hard and take the opportunity to learn from the older athletes on the team." (Canadian Women's KAYAK Team's Facebook page, 25 Mar 2015)

Both of her parents and her brother have competed in canoe sprint at international level. Her father Jean represented Canada at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, while her mother Guylaine Saint-George competed at the Pan American Games. Her brother Hugues finished seventh in the K2 200m at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Her fiance Anders Gustafsson has represented Sweden in the sport. He won gold in the K1 500m at the 2012 European Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. (SportsDeskOnline, 07 Aug 2015; montrealgazette.com, 14 Jul 2015; olympique.ca, 10 Jun 2015)

QUEEN OF THE WATER
She covers her kayak with red polka dots, inspired by the 'King of the Mountains' jersey awarded to the best climber in the Tour de France. "I love being out in my red polka dot boat. To me, there is no better feeling. I call it my little island." (Canadian Women's KAYAK Team's Facebook page, 25 Mar 2015; olympic.ca, 10 Aug 2014)

OLYMPIC DIARY
Her father Jean also competed in canoe sprint at international level. Ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, she and her brother Hugues found his training diary at their grandmother's house. The journal charted their father's preparations for the 1976 Games in Montreal, which included what he ate and how much he slept. Jean died from cancer in 1998. "For me, this is the closest I will ever get to having advice from my dad." (montrealgazette.com, 14 Jul 2015; globaltvedmonton.com, 29 Jun 2012)