Birthday kick starts Wallace's Games 27 July 2012

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• Ken Wallace of Australia in action during a Mens K1 Class race during day one of... © Clive Mason/Getty

CANOE/KAYAK SPRINT: Beijing gold medallist Ken Wallace celebrated his 29th birthday yesterday and hopes he can make it a golden double at the London Olympic Games.
But it won’t be in the K1 500 event in which he won gold in Beijing.
The singles berth is held by teammate Murray Stewart, who prevailed in the Olympic selection trial.
Nonetheless, Wallace remains the reigning gold medallist in the K1 500 because that event is no longer on the Olympic program.
However, Wallace has switched to the K2 1000 event, in which he will partner David Smith, from Lake Illawarra in NSW.
Not being able to defend his K1 title has not fazed the 190cm Wallace, who also works as a lifeguard on the Gold Coast back in Australia when he is not being a full-time athlete.
“Murray got up and over us at the nationals where I didn’t have my best race,” Wallace conceded.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete and he’s very fit at the moment, and even fitter now.
“So I switched to the K2 event, which I’m pretty excited about because it’s a new challenge. I got two individual medals in Beijing (bronze in the K1 1000), so to try to get a team medal will be pretty special.”
Wallace said he first raced with Smith in the pre-Olympic regatta last year “for a bit of fun” and they teamed well together.
“It has worked out well; we have just jumped in the boat together and it just works,” he said.
The kayak team’s preparation leading into London has centred in Hungary, as it has for the past six years.
“Water polo and kayaking are probably their number one sports, so we get looked after very well,” Wallace  said.
The kayak course at Eton Dorney is expected to be wind-affected, so Wallace said he had tried to simulate those conditions in Hungary.
“In London, I think everyone is expecting it to be really windy, and a cross-wind as well, which isn’t exactly the best for kayaking or for rowing,” he said.
“So in Hungary, when it’s windy we make sure we’re out in it and try to train hard with the wind.
“People are also expecting a slower course, maybe, because there has been known to be a bit of weed in the course.”
Whatever his result in London, Wallace said he had no thoughts of retirement, particularly with Rio de Janeiro on the horizon in 2016.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle of our sport, so I’d like to be around for a little while yet, but we’ll take it one step at a time.”