Green joins packed crew for Olympics
KAYAKER Tom Green admits the thought of heading to the Tokyo Olympics hasn’t sunk in yet as Gold Coasters weigh down the boat with Games selections.
Green joined fellow Pizzey Park-based Aussie paddling team members Alyce Wood, Alyssa Bull, Riley Fitzsimmons, Jordan Wood and Jean van der Westhuyzen in heading to July’s global showpiece, should it withstand concerns over coronavirus.
Pending official nomination, the athletes secured their spots for Japan following the five-day Paddle Australia
Canoe Sprint Championships – which doubled as Olympic selection trials – at Sydney International Regatta Centre.
Green secured his seat alongside adopted Aussie van der Westhuyzen.
The 20-year old backed up his winning series in the first round of selections at the Oceania championships and Canoe Sprint GP2 in February by taking out the men’s K1 1000 and K1 500 at the nationals.
“That was the goal to come and replicate what I did at Oceania and I just wanted to do whatever I can and leave no stone unturned. I did my best but it all hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Green said.
Green and his K2 partner van der Westhuyzen finished second in the men’s K2 1000 after the pair won the event at the Oceania titles.
With van der Westhuyzen also finishing second in the men’s K1 500 and 1000 behind Green, his provisional Tokyo ticket was locked in as well.
“It really hasn’t sunk in. I think it will in the next couple of days but it’s a childhood dream come true for me,” van der Westhuyzen said.
“Also, the next phase of training is coming up and we will put in a lot of hard work to ensure we get the best results at the Olympics.
“I’m super, super excited but I’m also excited for the hard work that comes now in the second phase of training.”
In addition, to the two Games debutants, Fitzsimmons
and Jordan Wood locked in their provisional nomination when they won the men’s K2 1000 and backed it up in a race-off between Green and Westhuyzen.
They also wrapped up a successful week with a win in the K4 500 with dual Olympian and Olympic champion Murray Stewart and Rio Olympic bronze medallist Lachlan Tame.
The latter two are yet to find out if they will secure the final two spots on the team.
QUEENSLAND is dominating the national team selections for Tokyo 2020 as our fighters chase Australia’s first Olympic boxing gold medal.
Gold Coast Commonwealth Games gold medallist Skye Nicolson (pictured), world No.3 super-heavyweight Justis Huni, and brilliant newcomer Paulo Aokuso led the way for Australia at the 2020 Asia & Oceania Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament in Amman, Jordan, last week.
West Australians Caitlin Parker and Alex Winwood also qualified for Tokyo.
Nicolson, a fast-moving southpaw counter-puncher, qualified for Tokyo by making the women’s 57kg semi-finals in Jordan, outpointing aggressive Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag of Mongolia to win the bronze medal. “I’ve been dreaming, training, praying for this moment my whole life,’’ Nicolson said. “I love boxing, it’s my whole life. I’m the happiest person in the world right now. Huni lost the final in Jordan on points against 201cm tall world No.1 Bahodir Jalolov of Uzbekistan.