Australian Canoeing and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) today announced the appointment of Martin Marinov as the Flatwater National Head Coach.

Marinov was the Head Coach for flatwater canoeing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

Australia successfully qualified 11 flatwater athletes for the Beijing Olympics and won three Olympic medals including 1 gold in the flatwater discipline. 

A former competitor, Marinov won two Olympic and five world championship medals for Bulgaria between 1988 and 1992. He moved to Australia in 2001 and competed for Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He was the Australian Sports Commission Scholarship Coach prior to being appointed Head Coach in November 2006.

Marinov said he was looking forward to the next four years and to firmly positioning Australia on the world map of flatwater canoeing.

‘To be ready for the challenges of Olympic qualification and success in London, we will need to maintain a system which allows athletes to excel in individual events while implementing new longer term strategies to improve our chances in  team boats,’ Marinov said.

Australian Canoeing President, Danielle Woodward said Marinov was well equipped to lead the national flatwater program forward through his vast knowledge and expertise in the sport.

‘We look forward to Martin building on the team’s success and setting the national direction for our network of coaches and athletes on the way to London,’ Woodward said.

AIS Acting Director Phil Borgeaud paid tribute to Marinov and the results he’s helped the AIS and Australian canoeing achieve.

‘Martin deserves great credit for picking up the reins of sprint canoeing mid way through the Olympic cycle and  achieving success in  Beijing,’ Borgeaud said.

‘His technical knowledge and ability to utilise key support services to enhance athlete performance has combined to provide Australia with some outstanding results on the world stage.’

‘The AIS is a world leader in elite athlete development, and the Institute’s canoe/kayak program have played a significant role in building that reputation.’

Contact: David Packwood, AIS Media Liaison Unit, 02 62141476 / 0408 417 894

* The AIS is a major division of the Australian Sports Commission.