David Ford can't do any worst than at the 2000 Olympics. Ford entered the Sydney Games as the reigning world champion and one of Canada's top medal contenders. He finished 22nd.
This year, he heads to Athens ranked second in the world and as the reigning overall World Cup champion.
He was named Canada's male athlete of the year for 2003 at the Canadian Sport Awards.
Ford competes in kayak singles whitewater slalom.
The sport was originally a demonstration event at the 1972 Munich Games. It returned in 1992 as an official event. It was removed then reinserted as an Olympic sport in 2000. It is a grueling discipline which requires tremendous power. Paddlers navigate through a big whitewater 25-gate course. European countries, particularly those from the former East block are the international powerhouses.
Since joining the national team in 1984 at age 17, Ford has set the benchmark for Canadians and North Americans in the sport. He was the first to win a World Cup gold in 1992 and is the only Canadian to win a world crown, an exploit achieved in 1999.
His Olympic history though is not as shiny. He placed 15th at both the 1992 and 1996 Games before the Sydney disaster.
Athens are his fourth Olympic Games. He knows time is running out to become Canada's first Olympic medallist on the rapids.
