BIG INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE
If David Florence had his way, he would have skimmed right past Saturn, done a spin around Pluto then zipped through the Milky Way before landing safely back at base.
Slalom canoeing’s not so different really. Plot a course that avoids all obstacles. Avoid a few boulders in the way. And make sure you don’t accidentally press the ejector seat. Simples.
The Aberdonian, 33, hasn’t done too badly by staying f irmly Earthbound.
Two Ol y mpic silver medals in his locker – with the chance of maybe two more in Rio next month.
However, in quiet moments of reflection, he wil l wonder what trajectory life might have propelled him towards had his audacious bid to be a spaceman come up trumps.
Before going to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 Florence was already a high-flyer after using the lessons he’d had as a boy on Edinburgh’s Water of Leith and steadily turning himself into a powerful paddler.
Taking on the waves and currents isn’t for the faint-hearted. There’s no such thing as an easy ride. Ranked among the best, unafraid of the challenge, he was entirely ready for lift- off.
But then a mate f lagged up an ad for an astronaut’s gig with the European Space Agency with the chance of a stint on the International Space Station. And it was all systems go.
Florence said: “I thought ‘ Well someone’s got to get it. It probably won’t be me but it definitely won’t be if I don’t apply’.
“It seemed l ike an incredible oppor tuni t y. I even started learning some Russian for it.”
There were over 8000 applicants. Florence threw his hat into the ring. But some guy called Tim Peake got the call. No rockets, just rejection.
Florence said: “It’s something I would have absolutely loved to do, not because it was any childhood dream of mine but just because I thought it was an exceptional thing to do and an amazing experience. I would genuinely have loved to have done it.
“He was obviously far, far better qualified for it than me. He’s a former test pilot in the military so it’s fair enough really. It’s just interesting to see him go on and do it. It’s great really.”
Not that Florence ever stopped daring to dream big. Or settling for second-best.
When he was a young canoeist, stepping out of Scotland on to the world stage, it wasn’t about holding him back. It was about keeping him under control.
He had all the talent in the world, his coaches knew it. But he had just a little too much adrenaline running through his veins in a sport where you can’t afford to ease off, even for a split-second.
Florence could have made his Olympic debut in Athens when he was only 21. At the selection trials, he bungled his start and opted to go instead on the wildest of rides. He said: “I drifted down the course and was hitting gates out of the way when I was supposed to be on a run.
“I was more disappointed than anything else. For seven or eight years, I’d been trying desperately to get to the Games.
“And I didn’t even come close due to a lack of mental strength. I could see it was something I had to work on, so I did.”
The coaches talked tough. The psychologists messed with his mind. From time to time, the angry young man reappeared but the blow-ups became few and far between.
Four years later in Beijing, he almost stole a shock victory before getting bumped into second in the individual C-1 event only after the very last run.
While at London 2012, he was hot favourite to go one better. He knew the course in Lee Valley like the back of his hand after training there, day after day. Every twist, every turn, every dip and dive.
One bad day at the office, one bad performance in the semi- f inal and he was bounced down to 10th.
But he du s t ed himself off, jumped back in the boat – and landed silver in the C-2 event with crew- mate Richard Hounslow as their British rivals Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie struck gold.
Of course, success is addictive. You want more and more and more.
Three more world titles have since been landed. He’s made himself into the man they all want to beat and had a couple of kids who give him something else to think about when he’s done prepping for the day. Florence said: “It’s really nice