Rachel gets a head start

KAYAK SPRINT

RACHEL CAWTHORN has revealed how a headstand helped propel her into tomorrow’s sprint kayak final.

The 23-year-old is on course to claim a medal in the 500m event after a strong display to finish second in yesterday’s semi-final.

And Cawthorn claims her success is down to ditching her superstitions and performing two headstands before she hits the water.

She said: “I don’t really have any lucky stuff any more. I used to have a lucky hairband and a lucky penny, but I abandoned them a couple of years ago when I thought I didn’t actually need them.

“But before the race couple of headstands.

“I just do a bit of pilates before I go because it’s part of my routine.

“It switches on my core and prepares me to go out.”

Cawthorn could go into her solo final with a medal already around her neck after today’s K4 women’s 500m final.

Cawthorn will be joined by Jess Walker, Angela Hannah and Louisa Sawers as GB’s women go for gold.

Beijing winner Tim Brabants will try to secure another success for himself and Team GB in today’s 1,000m solo sprint.

But Brabants heads into the final stages as an outsider after missing the whole of the 2010 season with a shoulder injury.