AIS and Australia's Jacqueline Lawrence has produced a superb run in the women's K1 final to collect a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.

Lawrence made it down the whitewater in a time of 206.94 seconds, 14.30 seconds behind gold-medal winner Slovakian Eolena Kaliska.

Austrian Violetta Peters Oblinger claimed the bronze medal.

The result was a stunning one Lawrence, whose best results so far in 2008 had been 15th and 28th finishes in World Cup competition.

Lawrence started the final in fourth place but moved up to second after two of her rivals missed gates.

The 26-year-old admitted to being stunned in claiming an Olympic silver medal.

'I just knew if I could get down with no major mistakes and be clean then that'd be really good,' Lawrence said.

'I did have a little mistake on the way down but I pulled it back on line and I can't believe it's led to this.'

'I was so excited just to have fourth at that point so to go into second is amazing,'

'This is beyond my wildest dreams.'

AIS Director Professor Peter Fricker was equally of Lawrence’s Olympic achievement paid tribute to Lawrence’s persistence and determination.

'This result is an outstanding success for Jacqueline, her coach Myriam Fox and for the AIS canoe slalom program,' Professor Fricker said

'Jaqueline’s silver medal is a reward for her personal commitment to her sport and the training program here at the AIS.’

The Australian Institute of Sport was established in 1981, and has consistently contributed to Australia’s outstanding sporting performance on the world stage.

The Australian Olympic team in Beijing consists of 433 athletes. Of these, there are 262 current or former AIS athletes.