Colin aims for second Olympics
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
For Hawai'i kayaker Kathy Colin, the finish line is fast approaching, and yet so far away.
Colin, a 1992 Punahou graduate from Kailua, is in the final stages of qualifying for her second consecutive Olympics. She also could be in the final stages of her paddling career.
COLIN
"I think that this will be my last year of kayaking, even though age-wise I feel like I could keep going," said Colin, 30. "So I'm approaching this Olympics like it's the finish line — I'm preparing harder than I ever have."
Colin is one of six Hawai'i paddlers who will be competing in the United States Olympic Trials tomorrow to Sunday at Oakland, Calif.
The others are Chris Ball, Andy Bussey, Jim Farnum, Lauren Spalding and Brandon Woods.
Colin represented the United States at the 2000 Olympics, and is still considered one of America's best female paddlers.
But she must prove her worth two more times — a victory this weekend will earn her a spot in the Hemispheric Qualifier at Curitiba, Brazil, next month. The winners from Brazil will qualify for the Olympics.
"I basically qualified through the same process four years ago, so it's nothing new," Colin said. "I'm pretty confident, but I'm not taking anything for granted. I'm hoping to race in the Olympics again, but I know that anything can happen along the way."
Colin could get help from another Hawai'i paddler. Spalding, who is from Maui, will be Colin's partner in the K2 (two-person kayak) and K4 (four-person kayak) events.
"We have the power and talent," Colin said. "But it'll be tough because we've never raced together."
Spalding has been flat-water kayaking for less than two years. She has been entering international competitions for less than one year.
"It really is amazing that she's so new to the sport and has a chance to qualify for the Olympics," Colin said. "But she's just naturally talented. You put a paddle in her hands and she turns into a bull."
Colin and Spalding have been training together in Southern California since February. They even spent two weeks in Georgia last month to work with one of the Olympic coaches.
"I looked at the 2000 Olympics as kind of my first experience," Colin said. "And ever since that ended, my goal was to do better at the 2004 Olympics."
Colin was eliminated in the semifinals of the 2000 Olympics.
The four men from Hawai'i are considered longshots to make the Olympic team as individuals, but they could qualify with other paddlers in the K4 races.
"There's probably going to be about 100 paddlers there," said Ball, the head coach of the Hawai'i Canoe & Kayak Team. "The competition is tough — it's probably harder to win the U.S. Trials than it is to win at the Hemispheric (Qualifier) — but we're all going to be out there giving it our best."
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
