David can reach his true peak in Brazil
David Florence is aiming for canoeing gold in Rio. 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.”