David can reach his true peak in Brazil
DAVID FLORENCE lost out to Major Tim Peake in the race to become Britain’s first astronaut. But compensation for the Aberdonian comes from the fact that he’s about to become a three-time Olympian.
Back in 2008 Florence, who has a degree in Mathematical Physics, applied to the European Space Agency for a place on their astronaut programme.
Peake made the same application and was successful while Florence didn’t get taken on.
Instead he went to Beijing and won a silver medal in the single canoe slalom, followed it with another silver in the twoman in London and is targeting gold in both events in Rio.
“I applied to the agency in the build-up to my first Olympics because I thought I had a few of the things that might give me a chance,” he says.
“The degree I’d done at university, the fact that I’ve always been analytically-minded and the fact I was used to dealing with pressure from our sport made me think they might be interested.
“It was a lengthy and difficult application form and, Europe-wide, there were about 10,500 applicants. They only opened up the application once.
“They took four people and one place went to a Brit. That was Tim Peake (below).
“The Olympics is not quite as unique as going into space. But it’s incredible to be competing in my third Games.”
Florence missed out in the singles, C1, category in 2012 but is the current World Champion.
“I was desperate to go to Rio after London,” he says. “In hindsight, I was pleased to be on the podium in the C2 class.
“Sure, I would have liked to have done better but it’s always small margins in this sport.
“I’d never won a World Championships going into London and I’ve won three world titles over the last three years, so it’s been a very good period for me.
“I’ll be 34 on the second day of competition but that doesn’t mean this will be my last Olympics. I’m in no hurry to retire.”
Florence spent much of his childhood in Edinburgh without realising that Sir Chris Hoy lived just down the road.
“Chris lived at the end of our street, though I didn’t know him at the time,” he says. “The first time we crossed paths was in Beijing when he introduced himself and we became aware that we’d been neighbours.
“I got into the sport after my uncle brought some canoes to a family day at the beach. At 14, I couldn’t even paddle, so I started very late.
“I only began to make serious gains when I moved to the watersports centre in Nottingham.
“I wasn’t ready for the 2004 Olympics but, by the time Beijing came round, I knew that I could win a medal.
“Olympic slalom courses all have a similar feel but they’re still different. Beijing was huge, London was fast, Rio is a bit smaller than London.
“To prepare we’ve been out there five times since November for two or three weeks at a time.
“I like learning languages and I’ve taught myself reasonable Portuguese, ready for Brazil. “My wife and youngest child will be out there, along with my parents, sister and a few friends, so I’ll have a lot of support.”