By CHRIS STEVENSON -- SLAM! Sports  PENRITH LAKES, Australia -- In these Olympic Games, where Canadians -- those at least who are still paying attention -- are looking for someone, anyone, to step up and restore some of our battered national pride, Caroline Brunet stands as the best hope.
 The kayaker from Lac-Beauport, Que., solidified that belief Wednesday on the waters of the Sydney International Regatta Centre, easily qualifying for the finals of the women's K-1 500m event and, with partner Karen Furneaux of Waverley, N.S., for the final of the women's K-2 500m competition.

 SYDNEY (CP) -- Canadian kayaker Caroline Brunet cruised into a pair of finals Wednesday at the Olympics.
 The double gold medal threat from Lac Beauport, Que., won her K-1 500-metre in one minute 51.558 seconds and then teamed up with Karen Furneaux of Waverly, N.S., to finish third in their K-2 500-metre heat. The top three advance to the final.
 "We have a very powerful start and today we were bang on," Furneaux told CBC.

By STEVE SIMMONS -- Toronto Sun   Caroline Brunet's reputation precedes her.

 She is so admired in the world of paddling that when the host country Australia took aim at medals it thought it could win, it all but abandoned any shot at gold in Brunet's specialty event, the K1 500-metre race.