Australia’s canoe sprint team will aim to build on its success at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when they line up in the 2009 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, next week (August 13–16) in Dartmouth, Canada.

Australia won three medals in Beijing last year, with Queensland K1 paddler Ken Wallace claiming gold and bronze in the 500m and 1000m events and Hannah Davis, Lyndsie Fogarty, Chantal Meek and Lisa Oldenhof winning bronze in the women’s K4 500m.

The Australian team will compete in 20 events at this year’s world championships, across 500m, 1000m and 200m distances. The team has a good mix of youth and experience, including eight paddlers making their senior world championship debut.

Wallace will be chasing his first world championship medal in the 500 and 1000-metre events. His main competition will come from Adam van Koeverden, who will be primed to win gold in front of his home supporters. Swede Anders Gustafsson will also be a major contender after shining in the World Cup season.

Lyndsie Fogarty, Hannah Davis and Lisa Russ remain as members of the women’s K4 500m crew. With Chantal Meek retiring, her place has been taken by rising star Alana Nicholls.

Luke Morrison and David Smith will chase a medal in the men’s K2 1000m. The new look K2 crew have paddled strongly throughout the international season, including winning gold at World Cup 3 in June.

National High Performance Director Richard Fox says the 2009 season has provided the opportunity to build a strong team for the future.

‘2008 was a very successful year for the team, and while we have retained some of the core athletes we have also integrated some very bright talent as we begin to build for London 2012,’ Fox said.

‘Ken Wallace and the women’s K4 have already proven themselves internationally, but it is the new brigade of paddlers coming through that now have their chance to cement themselves in the Australian team.’

The world championships will begin on Wednesday 13 August at 8pm AEST.