Picture: Carlos Furtado
SEBASTIAN Marczak may just row, row, row his boat, gently down the Thames.
But when an Olympic gold medal is up for grabs in London, he won't care how gentle he looks during the 200 metre sprint.
The Pemulwuy resident has been selected on this year's Australian Olympic team, 15 years after he took up canoeing. Had it not been for the inclusion of his sprint event at these games, the 29-year-old may have been lost to the sport.
"I was competing and training up until 2003 and didn't make the Olympic team in Athens [in 2004]," he said.
"It was announced after Beijing [in 2008] that my event [the C-1 200] would be held for the first time.
"As soon as I heard that, that's what brought me back to the sport."
For the first time, there will be A and B finals for canoeing, meaning the top nine compete in the A final and those ranked 10-18 compete in the B final.
He has set himself the goal of reaching the A final in London.
"In the A final it's anyone's race because everyone is so tight.
"Once you're in the final adrenalin and excitement take over and it can push you that extra one or two per cent that you need.
"In my race it is the last 30 metres where you win or lose the race, it makes or breaks you.
"At the end of the day every stroke has to be one 100 per cent because if you miss one stroke you can lose the race for yourself."
But after a decade of hard work the husband and father of two is happy to be selected.
"It is definitely the biggest competition for anyone and to be a part of that is extraordinary," he said.
"It is the ultimate goal to compete at the Olympics.
"To be able to be involved in the opening ceremony and walk with the Australian team will be an awesome experience."