Beijing - Athletes, Schedule and Predictions

Here are the South African athletes competing in canoe and kayak at Beijing.

I have put times and channels where I have been able to get hold of info. If I get better info I will make the changes.

I have also expressed my thoughts on how I think the different athletes will perform. Although these comments are entirely subjective I have tried to be as realistic as possible in my predictions. I wish the absolute best to every one of these athletes. I am totally in awe of their abilities and dedication.

11 August - Slalom

Siboniso (Master) Cele - C1 Heats - 04:00 SS6/SS7

Master Cele has been making steady progress over the last few years. Thanks in no small part to the incredible efforts of Cameron Mcintosh to bring the sport in from the fringes.

There is a small and slow rebirth in Slalom paddling. All power to people like Cameron and Alick Rennie and anyone else working for the benefit of slalom.

Slalom is so small in South Africa and our physical isolation and lack of facilities and high level competition makes it incredibly difficult to build world class abilities. That makes Cameron's work that much more significant. Go to the slalom website to get a better idea of what is being done.

Back to Master Cele and his likely achievement at Beijing. I think his presence is a worthy development exercise and a place in the final would be a great achievement. If he makes the top twenty I will p myself with excitement.

12 August - Slalom

Siboniso (Master) Cele - C1 Semi Finals / Finals - 09:00 SS6/SS7

13 August - Slalom

Cameron McIntosh & Lindelani Ngidi - C2 Heats - 09:00

I think this combination has similar prospects to Master in the C1. If they make it to the finals and have a hot run in the final they should make the top twenty.

One of the biggest challenges for our paddlers is their lack of high level competition and this affects their abilty to produce consistent performances. From what I hear about the Beijing course this is precisely the type of course that they could struggle on.

14 August - Slalom

Cameron McIntosh & Lindelani Ngidi - C2 Semi Finals / Finals - 09:00 SS7






18 August - Flatwater

Shaun Rubinstein - K1 1000M Heats - 09:30

Calvin Mkoto - C1 1000M Heats - 10:00

Womens K4 - K4 500M Heats - 10:30

19 August - Flatwater

Shaun Rubinstein - K1 500MHeats - 09:30

Calvin Mkoto - C1 500M Heats - 10:00

Jennifier Hodson - K1 500M Heats - 10:40

Michelle Eray & Bridgitte Hartley - K2 500M Heats 12:00

20 August - Flatwater

Shaun Rubinstein - K1 1000M Semi Finals - 09:30 SS6

Calvin Mkoto - C1 1000M Semi Finals - 10:00

Womens K4 - K4W 500M Semi Finals - 10:10

21 August - Flatwater

Shaun Rubinstein - K1 500M Semi Finals - 09:30

Calvin Mkoto - C1 500M Semi Finals - 10:00 SS6

Calvin has worked his way from an impoverished township background. Poor nutrition, pitifully limited finances, an iron will and a heart like a lion. Even with the help he has received from a number of people he has struggled against tremendous odds to get to Beijing.

Will he make a final? Maybe. But he has only recently become a senior and if he sticks it out he is likely to become a solid world cup and world champs finalist and will be a real competitior in the next Olympics.



Jennifier Hodson - K1 500M Semi Final - 10:20 SS6

Michelle Eray & Bridgitte Hartley - K2 500M Semi Final - 11:10 SS6



22 August - Flatwater

Shaun Rubinstein - K1 1000M Final - 09:30 SS6

I fully expect Shaun to make it to the both the 500M and the 1000M finals where he'll be battling six other paddlers for the bronze. The 1000M gold and silver will probably go to Tim Brabants and Adam van Koeverden respectively and then swop for the 500M.

Please don't think this next remark is negative ... If Shaun takes a medal it will take a month for me to come back to earth. He can do it but it will require him to paddle the best race of his life so far to do it. I hope he puts that race together, otherwise I think Eirik Veras Larsen is the most likely person to grab the bronze in the 1000M and maybe Ken Wallace or Marek Twardowski in the 500M.






Calvin Mkoto - C1 1000M Final - 09:45 SS6

Womens K4 - K4 500M Final - 10:20 SS6

All the womens team boat golds and silvers are likely to be shared between the Germans and the Hungarians. That leaves the others to fight for the bronzes. The Chinese K4 has been snapping at German and Hungarian heels and I think they will probably wrap up the K4 bronzes. Seeing as it is 'their' Olympics they will be enormously motivated.

I think our girls will put up a good fight and I hope like crazy that they can grab a medal but I think top five is the likely result.

23 August - Flatwater

Shaun Rubinstein - K1 500M Final - 09:30 SS5

Calvin Mkoto - C1 500M FInal - 09:45 SS5

Jennifier Hodson - K1 500M Final - 10:20 SS5

I think Jen is our best medal hope. I expect the gold and bronze to go to Hungary and Germany. Based on Jen's performaces in this years world cups I think Jen has a very real chance of a medal.

Michelle Eray & Bridgitte Hartley - K2 500M Final 11:20 SS5

As much as I feel for Nicki Mocke losing her place in this boat I think this is a far better combination.

Bridgitte has improved enormously this season and almost took the K1 position from Jen.

If Michelle and Bridgitte click they can get a medal. I think they even have a small chance of breaking the Hungarian / German stranglehold on golds and silvers in team boats.