Local athletes Daniel and Thomas Purcell and Jessica Groeneveld are currently in Brazil preparing for the Pan American Championships set to take place on March 9th and 10th. As members of Canada's National Whitewater Slalom Team, the Purcells and Groeneveld will be attempting to earn Canada a spot at this summer's Olympic Games in London, England. In order for Canada to earn a spot at the Olympics in each discipline, a member of Canada's slalom team must finish first in each discipline. The Purcell brothers, who compete in the C2 (doubles canoe) category, are tasked with defeating C2 teams from Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and the United States in order to advance a boat for Canada.
Groeneveld, who competes in the women's K1 (singles kayak) category, will be tasked with defeating teams from Brazil, Argentina and Mexico to advance a boat for Canada. The opportunity for Groeneveld and her teammates to capture this spot became greater after the U.S captured a spot at last year's World Championship. As a result, Team Canada will not have to compete against the Americans in the Women's K1 category.
After capturing Olympic berths for Canada, the athletes then return to North America and prepare for team selections to take place in Charlotte, N.C. In order for the Purcell brothers and Groeneveld to then represent their country at the Olympic Games, they must place first at the team selection races in North Carolina. Groeneveld remembers all too well how a first-place finish at the continental qualifier does not guarantee a place on the Olympic team. In 2008 she finished first at the continental qualifier, only to watch teammate Sarah Boudens from Ottawa defeat her at team selections and take that Olympic team selection away. Groeneveld, Daniel and Thomas Purcell want to enter the races in Brazil, finish first at qualifiers and then proceed to first-place finishes at team selections, capturing that Olympic dream which started approximately 12 years ago at the local Cottonwood Kayak Club. For the trio, who have been together at the local, provincial and national levels for the past 12 years, being teammates at the Olympic level will be the ultimate accomplishment.
Local residents can follow along or acquire updates at either Purcells2012.com or through the CanoeKayakCanada website.
