Clint Robinson: Australia
Clint Robinson
Clint Robinson was one of Australia's special breed of sportsmen
who train as lifesavers and learn their paddling skills in the surf and
then apply that knowledge to Olympic kayaking. Robinson was the
holder of a full time scholarship at the AIS and was still one of the top
contestants in the televised iron-man series when he was chosen for the
Olympic Squad to the 1992 Barcelona Games. Grant Kelly provided his
Olympic inspiration who trained near his house on the Maroochy River.
Robinson's victory in the K1 1000m singles kayak meant that Australia
finally had a canoeing gold medal. After several disappointments,
including the elimination of past world champion Martin Hunter in the
500m singles, Robinson paddled brilliantly in his final holding both
Greg Barton (USA) and Martin Popescu (Romania) at bay and then
putting all of his energy into the finish which ended the hopes of Knut
Holmann of Norway.
As well as being a surf lifesaver, Robinson had also been a
promising Rugby League player and when his father asked him what he
wanted to do with his life while they were watching the Los Angeles
Olympics 8 years earlier, Clint told him he wanted to represent his
country and win an Olympic gold medal. His dream came true in the
1992 Barcelona Olympics.
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