THE DARK TIMES

Q

When the Tate Smith doping issue erupted how much harm did it do to Aussie kayaking?

A

I won the London Olympic trials in K4 with Tate in the team then didn’t pursue that team. I went into K2 with David Smith (no relation). But it does tarnish the sport. It’s not good because other countries start looking into what you’re doing and we race against people overseas we know are taking drugs – or there’s too many factors that coincidentally fall into place.

Q

Have you ever taken performance-enhancing drugs or ever been tempted to?

A

No. I’ve never seen anyone take them and in all honesty I wouldn’t know where to start.

Q

You have been through the mill, as it were, on the number of sacrifices you have had to make to succeed. Tell us more.

A

Sport is a massive gamble in the way you put everything on hold, you put your life on hold and if you’ve got a wife, a partner or kids you put their lives on hold almost as well.

Q

So athletes, in some way, are really selfish people to be able to do it?

A

For me the only thing that will stop me from doing sport now is if I become too selfish or if I have to put my family through too much.