Mylanie Barré has paddling in her blood. Her mother Alexandra won silver and bronze paddling medals at the 1984 Los Angeles OIympics and her father competed at the 1972 and 1976 Games.
"I started paddling at a very young age but I only started taking the sport seriously when I was a teenager," said Barré. "My parents encouraged me to try different sports and I was involved in diving and gymnastics."
Caroline Brunet, Canada's most successful female paddler, wasn't expected to race a K-2 event in Athens but couldn't pass up an opportunity to be paired with Barré, 10 years her junior. Brunet's decision was cemented last year at the world championships when they won a surprise bronze in the K-2 1,000 metres at the world championships, a non-Olympic event.
"We have very good chemistry and I think it's well worth it for me to race with her," said Brunet.
