PADDLER 90
“ Having been isolated from the world for over a generation , South Africans felt resentment towards outsiders , especially those who had left the country during its challenging times to seek success elsewhere .”
PADDLER 90
“ Having been isolated from the world for over a generation , South Africans felt resentment towards outsiders , especially those who had left the country during its challenging times to seek success elsewhere .”
Pushing my girlfriend onto the floor , I crawled into Wayne ’ s room , grabbed his shotgun , and crawled out into the yard , where I watched this spectacle of two people hiding behind opposing walls , shooting at each other without looking up . They eventually ran out of ammunition and took off running in opposite directions .
I walked back into the room and went back to bed .
ALICK RENNIE AND GARY WADE
The team ’ s two most likely South African candidates were Alick Rennie and Gary Wade . Alick was older , an established and successful Escort farmer , and a long-time slalom paddler . Gary was about my age , also situated locally , and was one of the rising young hopefuls .
South African Canoeing hired Norbert to remain with us and train us , and under his expert eye , we all progressed . Finally , the day came to set up the team trials , and Norbert insisted that the rapid chosen be challenging as the Barcelona course was not easy . His choice was the infamous Tops Needle on the Umgeni – a challenging rapid even without gates . Much protest ensued . But this suited me just fine . With my extreme kayaking background , the harder the course was , the better my chance of making the team . I ’ d learned in training that I wasn ’ t much faster than the other guys on easy water , but as the game stepped up , a gap would open .
I won the selections by a whopping 22 seconds ( in a sport where there are usually multiple paddlers within a second ). I was then told by South African Canoeing that , “ I wasn ’ t really a South African ( despite being born and raised there ), and I could not have a spot on the team : the three places were going to ‘ real South Africans ’.” Having been isolated from the world for over a generation , South Africans felt resentment towards outsiders , especially those who had left the country during its challenging times to seek success elsewhere .
This was the beginning of what developed into an apparent exclusion from everything moving forward . Norbert went to bat for me . He argued that they had two places for ‘ real ’ South Africans , but I was their only chance of getting a good result – so they could justify slalom being in future Olympic teams . His arguments won the day . Alick was made team captain , Garry vicecaptain , and I was … well … there to fill the last spot . I felt it important to climatise as quickly as possible to European weather , rivers , and how events were run , so I left months before the ‘ official ’ chartered flight for the SA Olympic team .
Again penniless , without transport , I ambled about Central Europe joining where I could the workouts of various teams , slotting myself quietly into their national workouts . Only by training with the fastest can you improve . I was harmless enough as a South African , and so I was tolerated .
Alick , who came from money , arrived with his wife Nanette ( who was on the women ’ s team ) and with Gary , rented a camper van , and proceeded to go to the various World Cup events around Europe in relative luxury and comfort . Dry and warm , they ’ d cook meals , sleep on mattresses , and then drive to the next event , each time in a different country .
My lot was quite different . I ’ d stroll up to a group that looked like they were getting ready to eat and start chatting . I was invariably invited to join them , and a meal was had . My favourite place to sleep in the cold , wet European spring was on the concrete floor of the bathrooms . It was hard and cold , but it was dry .
In Milan , the only dry spot I could find was in a seated position between the toilet door and the toilet itself , so I spent the night huddled , sitting , wearing my ( primarily dry ) paddling gear ( as I did every night ), trying to rest . The following day , I was racing for my country .