I won’t settle for the same gold stories
David Florence reckons another Olympic silver lining would almost feel like a letdown as he starts his bid to finally take a slalom canoe gold today.
The 33-year-old, who has come second at the past two Games, opens up in the heats of the solo C1 this afternoon before going in the C2 tomorrow with partner Richard Hounslow.
One small error wrecked his hopes of an individual triumph in London 2012 but the Scot is backing himself to pull off what would be an astonishing double.
He said: “Of course I’d love to win gold. I certainly didn’t go to either of those Games aiming to win silver.
“If things go well then I think I’m very capable of winning a gold in either the C1 or C2 or even both.
“The way World Championships have gone in the past few years I know I’ve got a good chance.
“It’ll just be about preparing to the best of my ability after putting in a really good three and a half years since the last Olympics.
“If I can also make the most of all the training we’ve had in Rio, then I’ll have a great opportunity.”
Florence has accomplished everything he’s ever dreamt of in his sport apart from claiming the Olympic gold he covets.
The latest stage of his quest has led him to Rio and while his focus on his sport is normally all- consuming he has a welcome distraction this time in the shape of his three-month-old daughter.
The whole clan has come along for the ride this time with the extended family circle flying out both to babysit and to lend their voices to his cheering squad.
The Aberdonian said: “It’s good fun for them to get to go to an Olympic Games and to feel the excitement. Hopefully it will be a great spectacle.”
The canoeist has two shots at glory, firstly in the individual C-1 and then in the two-man C-2 with Hounslow.
The pair were second to fellow Britons Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie in 2012 but their partnership has been resolute, taking a world title since with the Scot taking the lead.
He added: “I do a lot of the planning for us. Richard generally is happy to go along. We’re very different people but it works.”