Kayak coach’s exit blow for Kiwis
Rene Olsen key to revitalising the sport on NZ scene
New Zealand’s women’s kayak coach Rene Olsen is leaving to be part of British Canoeing’s high performance programme. It’s a blow for Canoe Racing New Zealand, with the women’s side of the sport in rude health on the back of both the exploits of three-time Olympic medallist Lisa Carrington and the burgeoning K4 quartet of Carrington, Kayla Imrie, Caitlin Ryan and Aimee Fisher, who picked up a swag of golds at two World Cup regattas in the past few weeks.
The squad of eight — including a promising younger four — won six gold medals over two weeks.
The Danish-born former national paddling representative was appointed to the job in 2014. At the time he said he was “100 per cent focused on putting together a K4 and I think that's the best chance for not only making the Olympics but performing well when we get there”.
The four did get to the Rio Olympics last year and finished fifth, having won a World Cup regatta earlier in that season. While Carrington, the back-to-back Olympic K1 200m champion, works with Gordon Walker — the pair won the Halberg Supreme Athlete award for last year, and the coach of the year crown — Olsen had charge of the K4.
Recently there had been a change in coaching arrangements with Ryan swapping to work with Walker and Carrington.
Olsen will finish his New Zealand role after the world under-23 championships in Romania next month.
“Rene has created and implemented a world-class programme in his time here and he’s substantially increased the depth of female paddlers in New Zealand,” CRNZ chief executive Mark Weatherall said. “We’re extremely sad to see him go but wish him all the best for his future endeavours.”
Olsen said he would leave with regrets. Aside from the top level athletes, he has helped develop another tier moving up.
“I’ve really appreciated the chance to work with some amazing athletes and I’m incredibly proud with what we’ve been able to achieve and the pathways we’ve created,” Olsen said. “The paddlers and the club coaches all bought into the vision from the start and they’ve all been a big part of our success.”
It’s bad timing with women’s kayak on the rise, but if a sport is to lose a coach, the least disruptive time is in the first year of an Olympic cycle, where there’s still time to put alternate plans in place.
CNRZ owe Olsen a debt for revitalising the sport.