FLADBURY canoeist Lucy Wainwright insists she can join Team GB’s ever-growing list of Beijing medallists after qualifying for the semi-final of the K1 500m at the Shunyi Olympic park yesterday (Tuesday).

The 30-year-old from Kidderminster, who started paddling at Fladbury Canoe Club, progressed to Thursday’s second stage after finishing third in her heat, with her time of 1.50.103 minutes only bettered by Josefa Idem of Italy and China’s Hongyan Zhong.

Team GB have enjoyed a spectacular few days in the Far East with the sailing, cycling and rowing teams plundering gold after gold while David Florence earned the canoeing squad silver last week.

After finishing seventh in Athens Wainwright is in no doubt she can add her name to the list of Beijing medallists following an impressive start to her campaign in the Chinese capital.

“I am here to improve on my performance in Athens that is why I am here,” she said. “I wouldn’t have carried on if I didn’t think I could and I am feeling in better shape now than I have ever felt so hopefully I can go one step further.

“It has been great for Team GB, we came down and watched the rowers and David Florence get his silver – there is a really good buzz.

“But that almost makes it even more eager to get on the stage yourself so it is good to get going.

“We have another day off racing tomorrow we will then do a session in the afternoon and same pattern on Thursday as today. We are now into racing so it is all about sharpening up and getting ready for the next one.”

But despite the confident persona, Wainwright – who won European 200m gold earlier this year - admitted there were a few butterflies as she set off on the 500m course in Shunyi.

“I had a terrible start but once I got going I got into my rhythm and tried not to panic and do my own race and I came through – it was good to get one out of the way,” she added.

“It may have been nerves I have been waiting a long time for this – I have been here quite a while so there were a few nerves on the start but now the first one is done I can get on with the rest of the job.

“It was a hard race, but all heats are going to be hard at the Games it is almost as if you have done qualifying rounds before we get here so looking down the start lists they are never going to be easy.”

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