Alyce Burnett - Olympic Kayak Preview

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Category: Alyce Burnett

Matt: You didn't make the team earlier this year, take us through what you have been up to?
Alyce: Since Olympic Selections in March I have got back to my roots of Surf Life Saving. I am back living on the Sunshine Coast and training full time as an iron woman with my surf club, Maroochydore. I am also still studying full time and am working part time as a receptionist at my club.

Matt: How are you enjoying training for Surf Life Saving?
Alyce: I absolutely love it! It is a sport that never gets boring. There are four disciplines to train (Swim, Board, Ski & run) plus my constant gym work and still a bit of kayaking. I am one busy girl!!! Juggling all of these disciplines effectively to help me achieve optimum results is super hard, but at the same time so rewarding! I believe it is one of the toughest sports going around!

Matt: What are your goals for surf?
Alyce: My first major goal is to qualify for the iron woman series in September and then I’ll see what happens after that.
I decided to take on this challenge to give me a break from Kayaking, whilst keeping me fit and motivated. My goal is to be able to transfer back over into the Kayaks at the end of the year and be refreshed and ready to take on Rio 2016!

Matt: You are good friends and were roomies with Jo Brigden - Jones have you had a chance to chat to her in the lead up to the games?
Alyce: Yes I have. The girls all seem super excited and ready for what lies ahead! They seem confident in themselves and the training they’ve done, and I think they’ll get on that start line feeling completely ready to take on the world!

Matt: How do you think the Aussie Kayaking team will go?
Alyce: They have definitely been forgotten about in all of the media hype. But, I think there will be a lot of bling coming home around their necks! Both the girls and the men’s team are already very strong, but I don’t think we’ve seen the best of them yet! WATCH OUT WORLD!

Matt: Who are your picks to medal?

Alyce: MENS K4 1000. I don’t think you can look past this crew with Tate Smith, David Smith, Murray Stewart and Jacob Clear. They were second at worlds last year to a strong finishing German crew, and they’ve definitely stepped it up a notch since then!

ALANA NICHOLLS K1 500. Alana could easily pick up a medal in both the K1 200 & 500 after seeing her strong performances a couple of months ago at the 3 world cups. I’m putting my money on Gold in the 500!

WOMANS K4 500. These girls (Rachel Lovell, Hannah Davis, Jo Brigden-Jones and Lynds Fogarty) were just out of the medals at world cups whilst they were in the middle of a training block. After getting Bronze in Beijing, I know they are hungry for something better!

WOMANS K2 500. Naomi Flood and Lynds Fogarty are only a very new crew and with a bit of training under their belt now who knows what could happen!?

Matt: What Kayaking event are you most looking forward to watching?
Alyce: All of it!
If I had to narrow it down I’d definitely say the women’s events simply because I can relate to it as I’ve raced against most of these girls across all events.

Matt: What other sports will you be watching besides the Kayaking?
Alyce: I am basically a die-hard sports fanatic! I think watching the games this year will be so much fun because after being involved with the AIS and Australian Teams for the past 3 years I have had the chance to meet so many Aussies who have made this years team, plus so many international competitors. My favourite sports outside of Kayaking would have to be Swimming though!

Matt: Tell us something about Jo?
Alyce: She is an amazing cook and a die hard chocoholic! I think her favourite thing in the world though would have to be her dog Bonnie. When it was Bonnies birthday she spoke to her on the phone, and then when she went home to Sydney, she through a birthday party for her! Apparently this is a yearly tradition!

Matt: Anything you would like to add?
Alyce: This Olympics is the first time the 200m distances has been introduced. Its fast pace, huge muscles and nail biting finishes will definitely make kayaking so much more spectator friendly!

Kayaking is a sport that often gets overlooked by the Australian public, but was in fact one of the most successful sports in Beijing in 2008… Keep your eyes locked to the screen!

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