We send all our heartfelt encouragement to Martin Thomas who will be at the start of the World Cup in Prague, a major stage of the canoe-slalom World Cup.
Just a few days before this event and less than a month away from going to the Olympics, we asked him some questions to better understand the different stages of his preparation.
This stage of the World Cup seems to be a perfect rehearsal for the Olympics. Are you banking on this event?
Since my training programme is fully focused on competing in the Olympic Games, I will only be taking part in one of the races at this event. The World Cup is not really my goal this year. That said, with so many nations represented, it is a good way for all athletes to test themselves at the international level.
It is difficult for outsiders to understand why, as a member of the Olympic canoe and kayak team, you are not at the start of every international race in 2021. Can you tell us more about the specific details of your preparation?
Slalom canoeing is a highly demanding sport requiring many parameters to be taken into account. As far as an athlete’s physical fitness is concerned, this cannot be maintained at its highest level throughout the entire year. Therefore, with the team that trains us, we set our peak fitness levels in relation to selected and targeted competitions.
It is also important to understand that every course is different and that we cannot be as consistent at every one. This process of discovery is an important part of our sport. The courses are modified for each competition and also the day before the event.
We have to tailor our material to match the course. For example, choosing the right boat is crucial because every centimetre counts.
The configuration of the circuit in Tokyo should be very similar to that of the French Olympic course in Vaires-sur-Marne. Do you train there on a regular basis?
I have been training at the Vaires-sur-Marne circuit since March of this year. This enables me to build up my reference points that should be more or less the same in Tokyo. Discovering the course will be, as always, a big surprise.
