GAINESVILLE - More than 150 athletes from around the world got one step closer to the 2004 Olympics Friday as they qualified for 500m and 1,000m paddling finals to be held this weekend at the Lake Lanier Olympic Center. <br>
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The 33rd International Canoe Federation Flatwater Racing World Championships, presented by The Jim Walters Management Company and Cellular World, began Thursday with preliminary heats and continues through the weekend with the finals that will make or break 2004 Olympic hopes for many teams. More than 500 athletes from 66 nations came to Gainesville to qualify slots for their home countries in the paddling events next summer in Athens, Greece. Of the 246 paddlers who will compete in Greece, more than half can qualify at this week's competition. <br>
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The second day of competition was marked by a number of stunning performances: <br>
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-- Hungary was dominant as expected, qualifying for the finals - and a chance at Olympic berths - in a whopping 11 events: K2 1,000m, K4 1,000m, C1 1,000m, C2 1,000m, K1 500m, K2 500m, C1 500m, C2 500m, women's K1 500m, women's K2 500m and women's K4 500m. <br>
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-- Germany was also strong as usual, qualifying for 10 finals in Olympic events - K1 1,000m, K2 1,000m, K4 1,000m, K2 500m, K4 500m, C1 500m, C1 1,000m, C2 1,000m, women's K1 500m, women's K2 500m. <br>
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-- Canada was another powerhouse, qualifying for the finals in eight Olympic events - K1 500m, K1 1,000m, C1 1,000m, C2 500m, C2 1,000m, women's K1 500m, K2 500m and K4 500m. <br>
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-- China showed remarkable team depth and strength, qualifying for the finals in five events - C1 1,000m, C1 500m, women's K4 500m, women's K1 500m and women's K2 500m. <br>
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-- For the United States, former Israeli Olympian Rami Zur finished 1st in the K1 500m. A couple of hours later, Cuban defector-turned-U.S.-paddling-star Angel Perez and partner Bartosz Wolski finished 2nd in the K2 500m. All three will compete Sunday to secure Olympic spots for U.S. boats. Gainesville native Ty Hagler and his teammates finished 6th in the K4 500m, ending their chances for a shot at the 2004 Olympics on Hagler's home racecourse. <br>
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-- The U.S. women also put on a show for the home crowd. Ruth Nortje finished 2nd in the women's K1 500m behind perennial powerhouse Katalin Kovacs of Hungary, qualifying her spot in the finals. With partner Kathy Colin, Nortje finished 3rd, qualifying for the women's K2 500m finals as well. Colin also finished 2nd in the women's K1 1,000m semifinal, qualifying for the finals. <br>
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-- In one of the last races of the day, the Polish boat drew a gasp from the crowd when it overturned about 350 meters into the K4 500m semifinal.
