Dawson takes on national champs in Kawerau
Tv3 Reporter Di O'Connell spoke to Olympian Mike Dawson before he hits the rapids this weekend for the National Slalom Champs.
Olympian Mike Dawson makes his return to kayaking at this weekend's national canoe slalom champs in Kawerau.
The Tauranga paddler has spent months recovering from a broken back after nearly drowning during an extreme event in Chile last November.
It's been a long time on dry land, but now he’s finally back on the water and says he is keen for his eighth title in as many champs.
“I'm expecting to hopefully win but it's only been a few weeks since I’ve been allowed to paddle so I’ll take it quite easy on the water,” he says.
Not surprising after the 26-year-old's horrific experience in Chile after winning the first stage of the elite extreme whitewater enduro.
Dawson slipped into the Trancura River while taking photos and was swept away and wedged under rocks, inhaling water into his lungs.
His back was broken in the accident, forcing him to miss a whole winter of training, and confining him to the gym.
Now that he is back in the water, he says he’ll be avoiding the extreme white water.
“Mainly due to my back, I don't want to break it,” he says. “I don't want to injure it any worse than it already is so concentrate on the slalom and getting my eyes set on Rio 2016.”
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