NSWIS trio earns Olympic nomination

Three NSWIS athletes have been nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) for Olympic selection following the second selection trial over the weekend.

NSWIS athletes Murray Stewart, Lachlan Tame and Riley Fitzsimmons have each been nominated in the men’s 1000m kayak after their excellent efforts across the two selection events.

Stewart, a gold medallist in the men’s K4 1000m at the 2012 Olympic Games, will likely have his pick of the K1, K2 and K4 1000m events after dominating the selection trials, though it is unlikely he will race in all three.

Stewart won national titles in the men’s K1 1000m, K2 1000m and K4 1000m for the third, seventh and sixth consecutive years respectively to secure his nomination.

Fellow NSWIS athletes Jo Brigden-Jones and Naomi Flood will fight it out for the remaining spot in the women’s kayak team after Flood won the K1 500m race off at the national championships over the weekend.

The duo will compete at the first World Cup event in Germany during May to see who earns selection to the team.

Paralympic hopeful Colin Sieders will also get a shot at a Rio berth after being selected to the Australian Paracanoe Team. 

Sieders will compete at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in May and will be looking to secure a Rio Paralympic quota spot in the men’s KL1 event to earn selection to his maiden Paralympic Games.

In other team selection news, NSWIS athlete Ella Beere has been selected to the Australian Junior Team ahead of the ICF Junior World Championships in July, while Fitzsimmons, Ben McLean, Simon McTavish and Rachel Duncan all earned selection in the Australian U23 Team.