PDF Printable Ken Wallace Bio - Australian Canoeing

Ken Wallace (Canoe Sprint - K2 1000)
Can the 28 year old Queenslander add a third Olympic medal to his
collection after winning gold (K1 500) and bronze (K1 1000) in Beijing?
A dual Olympic medallist, Wallace will compete at his second Olympic Games in London this year after earning the right to be
nominated after a string of dominant performances alongside Murray Stewart in the men’s K2 1000 event at National and
Oceania Championships earlier this year.
The 28 year old Surf Lifesaver from the Gold Coast, Queensland, was the star of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, leading the
Australian charge winning gold in the men’s K1 500 and bronze in the K1 1000, going on to win the AIS Athlete of the Year,
Sunday Telegraph Athlete of the Year and Gold Coast Athlete of the Year awards.
With Olympic selection now secured, Wallace will be hungry to follow on from his success in Beijing, and will be looking to add
another medal to his collection in London.
Years on Senior team? 10 years
Nickname? Walrus
DOB: 26/07/1983
Lives: Elanora, QLD
Institute/Academy: AIS / QAS
When/Why did you begin this sport? Started at Currumbin Creek with Olympic Gold medallist Mario Von Appen at the age of
16. I began the sport because I was looking at improving my ski leg for SLS events.
Greatest Sporting Achievement? Winning a Gold and Bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games. Along with winning
5 Taplin relays at Aussie Surf Champs with some of my best mates!
What are your future goals? Win Gold at 2012 London Olympic Games.
What keeps you busy outside of Kayaking? Life guard duties at Gold Coast City Council.
Greatest Influence on Career? My friends and family.
Who inspires you? Troy Hipwood and Keith Colend.
Club: Currumbin Creek Canoe Club
Coach: Jimmy Owens
What are you looking forward to most about competing in London? Was awesome winning two individual medals, but I am
really looking forward to try and get on that Dias with one of my mates in a team event!
Which athlete do you respect/fear the most? I respect those athletes without the big ego's and fear the athlete with nothing
to lose!
Best aspect of being a sprint athlete? Being able to measure my abilities against some of the fiercest competitors in the
world while still managing to have fun on and off the water.
Best Advice you've ever received? Just go for it, you’ve got nothing to lose!
Rituals/superstitions? Warming up and listening to music on my IPod, I feel it relaxes me.
Motto? Winners always want the ball when the game is on the line.

Awards
2011 ICF Athlete of the Month (April)
2009 Order of Australia Medal (OAM)
2008 Most successful Male athletes at the Beijing Olympic
Games
2008 AIS athlete of the year
2008 Sunday Telegraph Sportsman of the year
2008 Top 100 Australian Olympic athletes in history
2008 Gold Coast sportsperson of the year
07/08 Australian Canoeing Paddler of the year
Results
2012
3rd (K2 1000m) - ICF World Cup 3 (Moscow, RUS)
3rd (K2 500m) - ICF World Cup 3 (Moscow, RUS)
5th (K2 200m) - ICF World Cup 3 (Moscow, RUS)
1st (K2 1000m) - Oceania Championships (SIRC, NSW)
1st (K4 1000m) - Oceania Championships (SIRC, NSW)
1st (K2 1000m) - National Championships (SIRC, NSW)
2nd (K1 1000m) - National Championships (SIRC, NSW)
3rd (K1 1000m) - Oceania Championships (SIRC, NSW)
3rd (K2 200m) - Oceania Championships (SIRC, NSW)
2011
6th (K1 5000m) - ICF World Championships (Szeged, HUN)
11th (K1 1000m) (B) - ICF World Championships (Szeged,
HUN)
1st (K1 1000m) - National Championships (West Lakes, SA)
2nd (K2 200m) - National Championships (West Lakes, SA)
2nd (K4 1000m) - National Championships (West Lakes,
SA)
2010
1st (K1 1000m) - Grand Prix 1 (West Lakes, SA)
1st (K1 500m) - Grand Prix 1 (West Lakes, SA)
2nd (K2 1000m) - Grand Prix 1 (West Lakes, SA)
2nd (K4 1000m) - Grand Prix 1 (West Lakes, SA)
2nd (K1 200m) - National Championships (SIRC, NSW)
1st (K1 500m) - National Championships (SIRC, NSW)
6th (K1 1000m) - World Championships (Poznan, POL)
7th (K1 500m) - World Championships (Poznan, POL)
2009
2nd (K1 500m) - Grand Prix 2 (SIRC, NSW)
2008
1st (K1 500m) - 2008 Olympic Games (Beijing, CHN)
3rd (K1 1000m) - 2008 Olympic Games (Beijing, CHN)
Get to know Ken Wallace
Follow Ken’s progress at his official website here.
Sportscene TV interview Ken Wallace after he won the
men’s K2 1000 Australian title with Murray Stewart.
Photo Credits - middle photo taken by Sportscene, bottom
photo taken by Balint Vekassy.
Wallace celebrates winning gold in the men’s K1 500 at 2008 Olympic Games.
Wallace has formed a powerful K2 combination with Murray Stewart with the
duo undefeated so far in 2012.
Wallace in action at the 2011 Szeged World Championships.