If there was a ranking for Canada's top gold medal hopes at the at the 2000 Olympic Games, kayaker Caroline Brunet of Lac-Beauport, Que., would be number-one.

  Who can argue with these numbers since her Olympic silver medal in 1996: triple world champion in 1997; double world champion in 1998; triple world champion in 1999. Unfortunately at the Olympics, Brunet won't likely win three gold medals because there are less events than at a world championships. She is in contention for top honors at the Games in the kayak singles 500-metres and the kayak doubles 500 with partner Karen Furneaux of Waverley, N.S.

  One of the keys at last year's worlds in Milan was beating defending Olympic champion Rita Koban of Hungary in the K-1 500. "She hadn't been at the last two world championships so that was definitely the strongest field I had faced since the Olympics," said Brunet, 31, who'll be making her fourth Olympic appearance in Sydney.

  Competing in a low profile sport means Brunet, the 1999 Lou Marsh Trophy winner as Canada's outstanding athlete, is often scrambling for funds to maintain her full-time training regimen. She took a major financial hit last year when her main sponsor filed for financial protection from its creditors. She trains in Europe under Christian Frederiksson of Denmark, a former world champion and her plan is to arrive in Australia two months before the Olympics, to complete her training phase.

2000 Games
Oct. 1: Women's 500m K-1: Caroline Brunet, Lac-Beauport, Que., won silver medal.
Oct. 1: Women's 500m K-2: Karen Furneaux, Waverley, N.S., and Brunet finished fifth in final.
Sept. 27: Women's K-1, 500m: Caroline Brunet, Lac-Beauport, Que., finished first in heat, advanced to final.
Sept. 27: Women's K-2, 500m: Karen Furneaux, Waverley, Que., and Caroline Brunet were third in heat, advanced to final.

Photos
Canada's team of Brunet and Furneaux


2000 Games Canoe & Kayak Coverage
2000 Games Caroline Brunet Section