At five-foot-5 and 120 pounds Karen Furneaux of Waverley, N.S., is a lightweight in the world of women's paddling. However she is one of Canada's Olympic heavyweight medal contenders for gold in kayak doubles 500 event with triple world champion partner Caroline Brunet. The pair reached new heights at the world championships last year winning the silver medal Brunet, 31, has adopted Furneax, 22, who is often touted as her eventual successor on the women's team. Brunet brought Furneaux to Europe to train with her personal coach Christian Frederiksson of Denmark. They'll travel together to Sydney two months before the Games to complete their training phase.

 "It's been a very good partnership," said Furneaux, a double gold medallist at the Pan Am Games last year as well. "Everyday we train together we learn and more and that's very important in a crew boat."

2000 Games
Oct. 1: Women's 500m K-2: Karen Furneaux, Waverley, N.S., and Brunet finished fifth in 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