YOG 2010: Kayaker Martin unfazed by poor sprint showing

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

 KAYAKER Andrew Martin admits his first outing on the water at the Youth Olympic Games was little more than a dress rehearsal - but he cannot wait for the real thing to start.

FACT FINDING: Andrew Martin struggles in the sprint competition but was busy preparing for the slalom event (Singapore Press Holdings)

The 17-year-old bowed out of the sprint competition in Singapore after losing in both round one and the repechage but it is the slalom where his true strengths lie.

On Saturday, Martin managed 21st place in qualifying but was easily beaten by Germany's Tom Liebscher before crashing to Kyrgyzstan's Ruslan Moltaev at the second bite of the cherry.

But Martin admits he only took part in the sprint event as the rules of inaugural Youth Olympics state all canoeists and kayakers must take part in both disciplines.

And Martin insists his result on Saturday is academic but believes he will have the edge in his favoured event.

"It felt really good to get out on the water and have a look at the venue and get used to everything ahead of the slalom competition Tuesday and Wednesday," he said.

"I am not a sprint kayaker at all so I didn't have any expectations for the sprint round. I just wanted to get used to what it is like to compete and get used to the bus and the venue and everything that goes with it and I have done that now which is great.

"I am feeling really good about the slalom final now because of having a bit of a look at the venue and also having seen some of the other people compete.

"Everyone has to do both the slalom and the sprint and I think a lot of the people out here are sprinters rather than slalom."

And Martin is convinced he has nothing to fear in the slalom competition, having cast his eye over his rivals.

"Some of the guys have not looked at home in the boat at all when we have been practicing and have fallen in and stuff," he added.

"So I feel like I can get a medal if I put in a good performance and that is what I am really hoping I can do.

"I have seen a few of the other guys coming back into the village with a medal and they look amazing, so I'd love to get one of those and I feel like I have got a good chance."

  Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games. Visit LloydsTSB.com/London2012