Steven Ferguson can empathise with the woes of New Zealand kayaking teammate Ben Fouhy, who plunged into a mental whirlpool after his opening Olympic hitout yesterday.
Athens Olympics silver medallist Fouhy arrived in Beijing last week telling media that he lacked confidence ahead of his K1 1000m campaign.
It seemed to be all sucked out him after finishing a distant third in his heat, nominating odds of 58-to-one that he would win a medal in Friday's final - assuming he makes it through a tricky semifinal appointment tomorrow.
"I'm going pretty average," Fouhy told NZPA.
"You don't have to know what sport's about to be able to see that."
He said he felt "heavy and tired" during the race, a sensation that had marred his racing for the past two years.
After a Games preparation he couldn't fault, Fouhy, 29, expressed bewilderment at his long-running battle with the kayaking yips and wondered if there was any way out of his mire.
Ferguson, who shared a K2 boat with Fouhy at Athens, remembered going through the same sensation in his previous sporting life as a swimmer.
He swam at the 2000 Sydney Olympics but found he was making little headway and lost the will to compete.
"That's when I decided to change codes," Ferguson told NZPA.
"I wasn't enjoying it any more so I had a break and then I found kayaking.
"In kayaking I've never felt that (mentality). If I did I'd probably decide I needed to change something or maybe start rowing."
Four years ago Fouhy arrived at the Olympics as a world champion.
His first heat at Athens was won in a commanding three minutes 26 seconds, about 7sec quicker than yesterday's time.
"One thing I've learned is to have a lot more respect for other athletes who are struggling," Fouhy said.
"I came through and won the (2003) world championship very very quickly.
"I thought `this is how you do it. What's wrong with these other guys who have got to the top but can't stay there? I don't want to be one of those'.
"But at the moment I'm probably looking like one of those."
- NZPA
