Three-time Olympian Warwick Draper enters 2016 looking to create history and become the first canoe slalom paddler to represent Australia at four Olympic Games.
 
He got his 2016 campaign off to a positive start at the Australian Slalom Championships in Tasmania last week.
 
The 39-year-old finished second in the K1 final and teamed up with fellow Melbourne Canoe Club paddler Alistair Anderson to win the C2 title.
 
Draper was pleased to produce a clean run in the K1 final in what was his first competition in nearly a year.
 
“In the last couple of gates I was a little bit more conservative than what I should have been but to put down a clean run and come second at Nationals, that is a solid effort,” Draper said.
 
“I mean it is just nice to race again as I have not been in a big race for about 10 months so it is good to come and get a hit out with all the boys and second is okay.”
 
Draper will now switch his focus to preparing for the national and Olympic selection events starting with the Australian Open from the 5 to 7 February.
 
That will be followed by the Oceania Championships, also in Penrith from the 19 to 21 February.
 
Should Draper be successful in earning a fourth Olympic Games berth he would join 76 others Australian athletes to achieve that feat.
 
“It would mean a lot but to be honest I am just trying to get myself as right as I can for racing and putting down those really strong runs to put myself in contention for it,” Draper said.
 
Draper considers himself the “long shot” this time around with world number three Lucien Delfour and Victorian Jaxon Merritt the ones to beat.
 
“The guys are going super quick at the moment and I am definitely the long shot this time around,” Draper said.
 
“I have got a new boat and it is giving me a real boost and I have had a good training block, I am probably the fittest I have ever been.”
 
But Draper is confident he can lift is levels to match the favourites.
 
“I am going to give it everything I have got and I think that given where I am at there is a possibility that I can bring my game up to that level so lets just wait and see.”
 
Draper’s best Olympic performance came in Beijing when he finished fifth in the K1 final.

Australian Canoeing’s most capped Olympians

5 x Olympians – Dennis Green (Canoe Sprint), Adrian Powell (Canoe Sprint) and Clint Robinson (Canoe Sprint)
 
4 x Olympians – Dan Collins (Canoe Sprint) and Barry Stuart (Canoe Sprint).

Australian Canoeing Press Release