KEY POINTS:
The emotions couldn't have been starker for two New Zealand kayakers who learned all about cut-throat Olympic qualifying in Sydney yesterday.
As a jubilant Erin Taylor celebrated becoming the first New Zealand woman flatwater paddler to qualify for an Olympic Games, Troy Burbridge sat dejected, a comforting arm on his shoulder from kayaking legend Paul MacDonald.
Taylor, 20, paddled one of the fastest times of her life, 1m 53.77s, to beat Australia's Alana Nicholls by 1 boat lengths in the women's K1 500m Oceania qualification race at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.
A few minutes earlier, Burbridge, 27, was beaten by Australian Tony Schumacher by three-quarters of a boat length in the men's K1 500m.
As the water settled there were similar scenes in the Australian camp; a beaming Schumacher greeted by hugs from his elated family and Nicholls wiping away tears.
"With about 50m to go I thought `oh no, you've gone too early', but I was just thinking `Olympics, Olympics, keep going' - it was such a relief," said Taylor.
"I've never had a race with that much pressure in my life and I don't know if I will again. I can't believe I'm going [to Beijing]."
Aucklander Taylor, ranked 14th in the world, admitted London in 2012 was her initial goal after taking up flatwater kayaking 2 years ago from a surf lifesaving background.
But she was quick to spare a thought for her teammate.
"I'm devastated for Troy. There's nothing I can say but I really feel for him. He's put in just as much hard work as I have," Taylor said.
The pair were well beaten by the Australians in the original qualification races a fortnight ago, but New Zealand officials protested against unfair conditions after both complained of weeds becoming entangled on their boat rudders.
They returned to Sydney on Tuesday for their second shot after the International Canoe Federation (ICF) ordered a re-run.
It was hard to take for Burbridge, of New Plymouth. A fortnight ago he beat Schumacher in the K1 500m B final at the Oceania championships and also combined with Ben Fouhy to win the K2 1000m final, with New Zealand's Olympic pairing Steven Ferguson and Mike Walker finishing third.
"I raced as hard as I could, I gave it everything and it wasn't quite enough," Burbridge said.
"I was definitely well prepared and I was ready to race. I was just sick of waiting.
"I just wanted to get it over with and in some ways it's a relief because the pressure's just enormous. I'm gutted and as the day goes on I guess I'll be more gutted."
It means a kayaking team of four at Beijing, with Taylor joining Athens K1 1000m silver medallist Fouhy, Ferguson and Walker.
MacDonald offered Burbridge a glimmer of hope, saying he would petition the ICF to grant him one of several wildcard entries for Beijing and potentially team up with Fouhy in the K2 500m.
MacDonald, the three-time Olympic gold medallist who will join his old teammate Ian Ferguson as a coach in Beijing, admitted the contrasting emotions made it a trying day.
"I haven't been that nervous for a long, long time," he said.
- NZPA
